
n^TTZZif? 
■ fa* .S^-MST 



m 




m 



% 





appW 



TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS 



AFTER THE GERMAN OF 



$xau} iEfctllpaqtr, 



BY 



EDDA MI DDL ETON 







iii .-■■■jSft 



NEW YORK : 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. 
i8<:8. 




V 






<3er 



^<^^-^— ^£ 









Entered according to Act of Congrefs in the year 1858, 

BY EDDA MIDDLETON, 

In the Clerks' office of the Diftricl Court for the Southern DiftricT: of New York. 






Dramatis Personae. 



> Female attendants of Sappho. 



SAPPHO, A Grecian Poetefs. 

PHAON, Her lover. 

EUCHARIS, , 

MELITTA, 

RHAMNES, Superintendent of Sappho's houiehold. 

Country people, maidens, flaves, &c. 

Scene — Ifland of Lefbos. 



SAPPHO. 



ACT FIRST. 
SCENE I. 

Open scenery. The sea forms the back-ground, bounded on the left by lofty mountains. 
Near the more, Hands an altar dedicated to Aphrodite. 1 To the right, is seen the 
entrance to a grotto, half concealed with flowers. At a little diftance, a colonnade 
of Grecian pillars forms the veftibule to the palace of Sappho. On the left, above 
a grafly bank, is a bower of rofes. Sounds of flutes and cymbals, mingled with 
fhouts of the people, are heard in the diflance. 

RHAMNES. 
(Coming haftily from the palace, and addrefling the aflembled attendants.) 

Awake from fleep ! arife ! fhe comes ! me comes ! 
Oh ! that my eager wifhes had but wings, 
To bear me onward, as my heart dictates ! 
Make hafte, ye idle maidens ! why delay ? 

(Eucharis, Melitta, and other female attendants advance from the colonnade.) 



SAPPHO. [Act I. 



MELITTA. 

Why blame us thus ? We all are here. 



RHAMNES. 



She comes ! 





MELITTA. 


Vho comes ! 


Ye Gods! 




RHAMNES. 




Sappho ! 2 




(Shouts from within.) 



Hail ! Sappho ! Hail 



RHAMNES. 

Thrice welcome, Sappho ! Hail ! all hail ! 



MELITTA. 

(Surprifed.) 

RHAMNES. 



What 



means- 



Now by the Gods ? the maiden feigns surprife ! 
What doit thou afk, that seems so wonderful ? 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 



Returns she not from high Olympia, 3 
Bearing the envied wreath of victory ? 
The palm of poetry, hath fhe not gained, 
In fight and prefence of afTembled Greece ? 
Joyous to her, the people fhout a welcome, 
And bear to Heav'n the tidings of her triumph. 
They ling aloud, whofe hand it was, whofe lip, 
That firft unlocked the enchantments of the lyre, 
And bade the freedom of her song, submit 
In gentle difcipline of harmony. 

(Shouts from within.) 

Hail ! Sappho ! Hail ! 

RHAMNES. 

'Tis well that they rejoice. 

(To Melitta.) 

See'st thou the wreath upon her noble brow ? 

MELITTA. 

Sappho alone I see ! To her I fly ! 

RHAMNES. 

Remain ! Remain ! What tribute doft thou think 



SAPPHO. [Act I. 



Such joy as thine can bring to one like her ? 
Far nobler praife hath fhe been wont to hear. 
Rather make ready all within her houfe. 
By service only, mould the flave applaud. 

MELITTA. 

See'ft thou another by her ride ? 

RHAMNES. 

Ah ! who ? 

MELITTA. 

A lofty, radiant form ftands by her fide. 

'Tis thus they paint the God of Lyre and Bow/ 

RHAMNES. 

I see ! Begone ! 

MELITTA. 

'Tis but a moment fince, 



Thou call'dft us forth. 



RHAMNES. 



I called ye, that is true, 
To warn ye only of her loved approach. 



Scene II. J SAPPHO 



But now your duty is within the houfe ; 
For in your service lies your trueft joy. 



MELITTA. 



But let us only- 



RHAMNES. 

No ! Begone ! Away ! 

(They retire.) 

Now may me come, and no rude merriment, 
Or childifh joy difturb the festival. 



SCENE II. 



Sappho appears magnificently attired, seated in a car drawn by white horfee. In her 
hands fhe holds a golden lyre, and on her brow (he wears a wreath of laurel. Phaon 
in mepherd's garb Hands by her fide. Crowds follow them with joyful acclamations. 

THE PEOPLE. 

Hail! Sappho! Hail! 

RHAMNES. 
(Mingling with the crowd.) 

Hail ! Nobleft of women ! 



SAPPHO. [Act I. 



SAPPHO. 



Thanks, my true friends and loyal countrymen. 

For ye alone this laurel crown is dear ; 

And here within the bofom of my home, 

I firft (hall claim it only as my own. 

Here, where the virions of my youth began, 

The girlifh dreams of my awak'ning soul, 

And the wild feverifh pulfe of womanhood, 

With recent joy, they fill my enraptured heart. 

Here, the dark cyprefs fhades my parents' grave. 

I hear it whifper love to me — their child. 

Here, my young mufe firft met th' approving- smile. 

Here only can I proudly wear this wreath, 

And revel in the joy its honor brings. 

(one of the people.) 

We call thy glory ours ! 'Tis all our pride ! 
More than afTembled Greece, we prize thy fame, 
And lifren to each faithful, truthful word. 

RHAMNES. 
(Prefling forward.) 

Greateft and beft ! I welcome thee again. 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. 7 

SAPPHO. 

(Defcends from her chariot and salutes kindly the friends around her.) 

My faithful Rhamnes, welcome ! Antander 
Thou here, spite of the burthen of thine age ! 
Calisto ! Rhodope ! What ! weeping now ! 
Yes ! faithful to the dictates of the heart, 
Thine eyes return a pledge of truthfulnefs. 
For tears, take tears. 

(She weeps.) 

Forgive my gufhing heart. 

ONE OF THE PEOPLE. 

Welcome again to this thine ancient home. 
Welcome to hearts that proudly own thy worth. 

SAPPHO. 

'Tis not in vain ye greet your citizen. 
Another friend, her gratitude hath brought, 
To give ye heartfelt thanks. Phaon his name. 
Of noble origin, and proudly by 
The nobleft in the land he well may ftand. 
Altho' his years are few, ftill hath he proved 
Himfelf a hero, both in word and deed. 
And mould ye ftand in need of warrior's arm, 



8 SAPPHO. [Act I. 

Of temperate counfel, or of eloquence, 
Invoke but him, and seek no other aid. 

PHAON. 

Mock not my inexperienced youth, oh ! Sappho. 
How can I merit such unbounded praife ? 
Why feign a worth I dare not call my own. 

SAPPHO. 

Who sees thy blufhes, will believe my words. 

PHAON. 

I ftand o'erwhelmed in all humility. 

SAPPHO. 

Humility and worth are lifters ever. 

Thy modefl heart gives them a fitting home, 

(Turning to her friends.) 

Yes, friends ! Hear the fond secret of my life. 
Phaon I love ! On him hath fall'n my choice. 
His rare endowments could alone allure 
Me from the height, to which my ardent soul 
Had winged its way, down to the smiling earth, 
To mare with him a blifs, I dreamed not of. 
And at his fide, surrounded by my friends, 



Scene III.] SAPPHO 



The tranquil happinefs of rural peace 

I fhall enjoy, and live a iimple life. 

The laurel for the myrtle I will change, 

And only ftrike the soul-refponfive lyre, 

Which once could fill your hearts with rapturous awe, 

In §ngle praife of ftill domeftic joy. 

THE PEOPLE. 

Glory to thee, our Queen ! Hail ! Sappho ! Hail ! 

SAPPHO. 

It is enough ! again accept my thanks. 
My servants will prepare a gen rous feaft, 
To gaily celebrate with wine and song, 
This happy, happy day. And now farewell. 

(To her friends.) 

And thou — and thou — all — all of ye farewell. 

(The people retire with Rhamnes.) 



SCENE III. 



(Sappho and Phaon alone.) 
SAPPHO. 

Thus, dear one, lives thy Sappho. Ever thus 
She lives alone for love and gratitude. 



IO SAPPHO. [Act 1. 

Thus, hath me ever learned to pafs her days, 

And be contented with her peaceful lot. 

But now a more than mortal blifs is mine. 

Oh Phaon ! Give me back but half of that, 

My heart hath lent to thine, and I'm content. 

And yet withal, my heart hath had its woes. 

Early the grave clofed o'er my parents fond, 

And one by one, capricious Deftiny 

Laid all my brothers quickly by their fide. 

I've learned, ere this, how bafe ingratitude 

Doth wound the trufting heart — I know full well 

The treachery of friendfhip. Aye ! of love. 

To lofe and to regret, I've oft been taught. 

Yet there is that I could not bear to lofe. 

It is thy love ! Without it — I mull: die. 

Examine well thy heart, and prove thyfelf. 

Thou little know'ft the power that sways this soul. 

Oh ! never, Phaon, let me lean this head 

In trufting confidence upon thy breafl:, 

And only find therein a vacant heart. 

PHAON. 

Nobleft of women ! 

SAPPHO. 

Deareft, say not so. 
Doth not thine heart dictate some fonder name ? 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. II 

PHAON. 

Of what I speak, or do, I scarcely know. 
Borne from the darknefs of my humble lot, 
To dazzling heights, that others could not reach, 
My brain bewildered, dimly knows its joy. 
The hills and valleys vaguely ftand before me. 
The lowly cottages flit paft my fight. 
The very ground beneath me seems to move, 
And I am borne upon the tide of blifs. 

SAPPHO. 

Thou flattereft sweetly, yet doft thou flatter ! 

PHAON. . 

(With paffionate enthufiafm.) 

And Sappho art thou then ? Thy wide-spread fame 
Hath filled the diftant boundaries of Pelops' ifle, 
On to the Weftward, where the Thracian hills, 
Tower far above proud Hellas' 5 fertile mores, 
And nod their lofty summits to the waves. 
Wherever Grecian accents have been heard, 
E'en unto Asia's sunny fkies and vales, 
There hath thy name been sung, and there thy fame 
Hath reached to Heav'n, and to the lift'ning ftars. 
How fell proud Sappho's eyes upon poor Phaon ? 



12 SAPPHO. [Act I. 

Whofe only fortune was his fimple lyre, 
Whofe only merit was his fimple song, 
Which feebly flowed, in myftic harmony, 
To sounds that Sappho had immortalized. 

SAPPHO. 

Not so ! Have then thefe ill-tuned firings been taught 
No other echo than their miftrefs' praife ? 

PHAON. 

Believe me, fince the hour this feeble hand 
Firft touched in trembling awe its magic chords, 
The image which my soul had traced of thee, 
Like unto a goddefs, rofe before me. 
When seated in the circle of my home, 
Beneath whofe humble roof my father lived, 
Theano, my dear lifter, sang of thee: 
The noify children quickly left their play ; 
The youths and maidens near and nearer drew, 
That not one note of so much golden song, 
Should fall forever loft upon the air. 
And when like thee, fhe sadly sang of love ; 
Of lonely sorrowing nights in weeping pafTed ; 
The sports of Athis and Andromeda ; 
How anxioully each maiden bofom heaved, 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. 13 

Fearful left some fond word mould fall unheard. 
Then did my penfive ftfter murmur low, 
Amid the gathering darknefs of the night, 
" What form of beauty doth this Goddefs wear ? 
" By all the Gods ! Methinks I see her now ! 
"Amid a thoufand, I mould know her well." 
Thus was the filence broken. Each one traced 
In fancy's eye, the glories of thy form, 
Seeking perfection where they prized it moll. 
One gave Minerva's brow, one Juno's arm, 
One girt thee with the Cestus' magic charm. 6 
But I alone, in thoughtful filence rofe, 
And sought the tranquil solitude of night. 
There with no witnefs of my soul's deftre, 
Amid the sacred ftillnefs of the hour, 
I, in wild longing, ftretched my arms to thee. 
And when the fighing wind from mountain height, 
The zephyr's breath, the perfume of the hills, 
The filvery radiance of the pallid moon, 
Blended in one, played o'er my fevered brow, 
Then wert thou mine. I felt thy prefence near ; 
Thy image floated in the balmy air. 

SAPPHO. 

Haft thou not taken from thine own rich ftore, 



14- SAPPHO. [Act I. 

The merit thou haft fondly lent to me ? 

Ah ! if thou fhouldft take back what thou haft lent ! 

PHAON. 

Sent by my father to Olympia's games, 

To try my fortune in the chariot race, 

Along the path, the tidings winged their way, 

That Sappho would conteft the prize of song. 

Then swelled my longing heart with ftlent joy. 

Impatient to arrive, I urged my fteed. 

The way half won, he sank to rife no more. 

At length arrived, the wreftler's manly art, 

The chariot's fleetnefs, and the difcus' throw, 7 

PofTeiTed no power to move my thirfting soul. 

I afked not who had loft, or who had won. 

I seemed alone to have attained the goal. 

I felt the long expected hour was near, 

When on the queen of women I mould glance. 

Then came the day, to judge the prize of song. 

In vain the mufe of Alcaeus and Anacreon. 8 

Unheeded fell their notes upon mine ear : 

My maddened spirit could not feel their sway. 

When hark ! A sudden murmur from the crowd, 

Proclaimed with rapture, th' approach of Sappho. 

In her right hand fhe held a golden lyre, 



Scene HI.] SAPPHO. 15 

A flowing garment white as driven snow, 

The hem with palm and laurel leaves adorned, 

(Fit emblem of the poet's peaceful fame) 

Concealed with modefty, her ankles' grace. 

A mantle of the deepeft Tyrian dye, 9 

Like gorgeous morning clouds about the sun, 

Hung from her moulders fair. Above her brow, 

Amid the trefTes of her raven hair, 

Refted a diadem of moon-like ray, 

An orient pearl upon the brow of night. 

My throbbing heart then told me who it was. 

But ere the thought had yet efcaped my lips, 

A thoufand voices rent the liquid air, 

With Sappho's name. 

But of thy magic song ! 
Bewildered with applaufe, the conquering lyre, 
Fell from thy trembling grafp. Spell-bound I flood, 
Abafhed beneath thy gaze. Still half entranced, 
I scarce can tell, how much I may have dreamed, 
How much may yet be true, of my wild dream. 

SAPPHO. 

Full well do I remember, how thou ftood'ft 
Before me, trembling, pale and wrapt in thought. 
Thy life seemed centred in thy glowing eyes, 



l6 SAPPHO. [Act [. 

As ever and anon, thou gazed on me. 
I bade thee follow, and thou did'ft obey, 
Overwhelmed with doubt, yet trufting in thy fate. 

PHAON. 

Who would have dreamed, that Hellas' nobleft mufe 
On Hellas' humbleft son, would can 1 her eyes. 

SAPPHO. 

Thou art unjuft, both to thyfelf and fate. 

Miftruft not, what the Gods do thee award. 

Gifts that are wifely deftined to complete 

Life's full enjoyment, forth they freely pour, 

On cheek and brow, filling the soul with blifs. 

The gift of beauty is a joy forever. 

Exiftence is itfelf, a precious thing. 

Prized be undaunted courage, ftrength of frame, 

Calm refignation to all earthly woe, 

Philofophy to bear whatever is, 

In the fond trufting hope of what may be. 

For after all, the higheft aim of life, 

Is to live wisely, as the Gods decree. 

Not without meaning, did the mufes choofe 

The bare and fruitlefs laurel for their own. 

Scentlefs and cold, it weighs upon the brow, 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. 1 7 

Emblem of sacrifice, and fterile fame. 
Is not the poet's talent doomed, alas ! 

(Stretching her arms towards Phaon.) 

To seek some other source of earthly blifs ? 

PHAON. 

Whate'er thou say 'ft, Enchantrefs, mull: be truth. 

SAPPHO. 

Let us then ftrive to make each other bleft. 

Around our brows, one common garland twine. 

Here in this happy, peaceful spot, we'll reft, 

Where all seems deftined but for love alone. 

From the full brimming cup of life we'll drink. 

Behold this fite, environed half with land, 

Half refting in the ocean's ftormy arms. 

Silence and peace reign o'er its meadows green. 

Beneath thefe bowers of rofes, we will fit. 

Within the fhelter of thefe marble halls, 
Like the immortals, we will quafT of life. 

All here is mine — and thine. If ufed by thee, 

'Twill henceforth have new value in mine eyes. 

Gaze all around. Phaon, thou art at home. 

To my attendants, I will fhow their Lord. 

By my example, teach them to obey. 



1 8 SAPPHO. [Act I 

(To her attendants.) 

Maidens and flaves, come forth ! Your miftrefs calls. 

PHAON. 

A weight of gratitude is on my heart. 
Such love as this I never can repay. 



SCENE IV. 



(Enter Rhamnes, Melitta, and other attendants.) 
RHAMNES. 

We heard thy call. 

SAPPHO. 

Behold your future Lord. 
Approach ! 

RHAMNES. 
(With hesitation.) 

Said'fl thou our Lord? 

SAPPHO. 

(Angrily.) 

Who was it spoke 
What meaneft thou? 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. IO, 

RHAMNES. 
(Drawing back.) 

Nothing. 

SAPPHO. 

Be filent then. 
Ye here behold your Lord. His flighteft wifh 
Demands obedience, the same as mine. 
Woe be to him who faileth to obey, 
Or giveth caufe for clouds upon that brow. 
NeglecT: towards me, perhaps I can forgive, 
But his difpleafure will enfure difgrace. 
And now, dear Phaon, truft thee to their care. 
I see thou art fatigued and travel- worn. 
Of Sappho's hofpitality, enjoy the right. 
'Tis her firft gift to thee, thou weary one. 

PHAON. 

Could I but caft from me my former life, 
E'en as thefe dufty garments, change for new, 
And thus become more worthy of thy love, 
And gain in merit all I would defire, 
My higheft aim were anfwered. 

Fare thee well, 
For a brief space. 



20 SAPPHO. [Act I. 

SAPPHO. 

I fhall await thee here. 

(To Melitta.) 

Remain, Melitta. 

(Exeunt Phaon and attendants.) 



SCENE V. 

SAPPHO. 

(Silent and gazing after Phaon.) 

Well ! (fighing.) 



MELITTA. 

What is thy wifh? 

SAPPHO. 

Rufhes the warm blood only in my breaft ? 
Freezes its current in all other hearts ? 
Thou saw'ft him — heard the sound of his dear voice, 
The air that fanned his brow was breathed by thee, 
And yet — the only utterance thou bringest forth — 
" Thy wifh, my miftrefs." 

I could hate thee ! Go ! 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 21 

(Melitta is about to depart lilently. Sappho seats herfelf upon a grafly bank.) 

Yet ftay, Melitta. Canft thou nothing say, 

(Tenderly.) 

To give me joy and pleafure, deareft child ? 
Thou saw 'ft him, didft thou not ? And yet so dumb ! 
Where were thine eyes? Maiden, didft nothing mark 
Worthy to tell me of in after hours ? 

(Taking Melitta gently by the hand.) 
MELITTA. 

Thou knoweft well, how often thou haft said, 
A maiden's eyes on ftrangers mould not fall. 

SAPPHO. . 

Was it for this, thy glances swept the ground ? 
Poor girl ! 

(Killing her.) 

The leftbn was not meant for thee. 
What suits the child, befits not womanhood. 
'Twas only meant for older — wilder hearts. 

(Looking penetratingly at Melitta.) 

And yet thou'rt ftrangely changed, fmce laft we met. 
Thou haft grown taller and — 

Yes, deareft child, 

(Killing her again.) 



22 SAPPHO. [Act I. 

Thou art quite right. The lefTon suits thee too. 

(Rifes.) 

Why art thou now so sad and filent grown ? 

Thou wert not wont to be so. Why doft tremble ? 

Not unto Sappho, as thy miftrefs look. 

A tender friend, Melitta, speaks with thee. 

One who has caft afide her former faults, 

And learned to curb ambition, pride of place, 

All elfe unworthy of a noble heart. 

I thruft them deep into the waves' abyfs, 

When wafted to my home, by Phaon's fide. 

Such is the wondrous, magic power of love. 

It purifies whate'er it breathes upon, 

E'en as the sun, the frowning thunder-cloud 

Can tinge with living hues of molten gold. 

If ever I have pained thee by quick speech, 

Or hafty deed, forgive me now, sweet girl. 

We'll in the future live as fitters dear, 

Close to his side, equals in every thing, 

Save in the fond pofTeflion of his love. 

Like thee, I will be gentle, kind and good. 

MELITTA. 

Thou art and ever haft been, kind and good. 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 23 

SAPPHO. 

Ah yes ! If to be good, thou mean'ft not bad. 
Too ill and sad my life for such reward. 
Yet tell me, child, will he be happy here ? 

MELITTA. 

Who could be aught but happy near to thee. 

SAPPHO. 

And yet, with what can I repay his love ? 
He ftands before me, in the pride of youth, 
His brow adorned with all the flowers of life; 
His op'ning mind, unconfcious of its power, 
Darts keenly forward, to embrace at once, 
All that is noble, beautiful, and good, 
Soaring to higheft heaven with eagle eye. 
The world is his — with all its weal and woe. 
But I — oh ye all-powerful Gods above ! 
Give me but back again the vanifhed paft. 
Extinguish in my heart each deep-worn trace, 
That former joys and sorrows have imprefled. 
Whatever I have suffered, felt, or done, 
Oh ! let it be, as tho' it ne'er had been. 
Let me recall the happy days of youth, 



24 SAPPHO. [Act I. 

When ftill, unknowing of the tafk of life, 
I looked upon the world as bright and good. 
When no prefentiment of ill, drew tones 
Of drooping sadnefs from my plaintive lyre. 
When love itfelf was frill for me a dream, 
A far-off, unknown fairy paradife. 

(She leans sadly upon Melitta.) 
MELITTA. 

Dear miftrefs ! Thou art ill ? Oh ! Speak to me. 

SAPPHO. 

My brain is giddy, and methinks I hand 
Upon the brink of some wide, gaping gulf, 
A black abyfs, that yawns 'twixt him and me. 
Beyond I see a golden land of joy. 
My eye can reach it, but my footiteps never. 
Woe be to all who quit their peaceful home, 
In search of phantoms, such as honor — fame. 
In a frail fkiff, they sail a troubled sea; 
Or find a defert, without tree or flower, 
Naught but illimitable, vacant space. 
Far, far away, the verdant more is seen : 
While all confufed, with ocean's hollow din, 
They catch the sound of voices that are dear. 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 2$ 

But if indeed they reach their home again, 
Alas ! their former joys — their friends are gone. 
Spring is no more — its flowers are faded — dead, 

(She plucks off her wreath in sadnefs.) 

Nothing is left, save autumn's ruftling leaves. 

MELITTA. 

That envied wreath ! That noble recompenfe ! 
By thoufands sought for ! But in vain — in vain ! 

SAPPHO. 

'Tis true, dear girl. Alas ! in vain — in vain ! 

(Replacing the wreath.) 

Yet honor is no vain, no empty sound. 

It fills the breaft, with confcious Godlike power. 

At leaft, I am not poor, for in this wreath. 

Behold a treafure, that can equal his. 

Amid its leaves, the Paft and Future live. 

******* 

Thou comprehended not. 'Tis well for thee. 
Oh ! may my meaning never reach thy heart. 

MELITTA. 

And art thou angry with me ? 



26 SAPPHO 



[Act I. 



SAPPHO. 

No, dear child. 
Go now and join the reft, and let me know 
When Phaon waits thy miftrefs. 



SCENE VI. 



Sappho alone. She remains loft in thought, her head refting on her hand. Taking her 
lyre, fhe seats herfelf on the grafTy bank, and chants the following hymn to Aphrodite, 
accompanying herfelf with a few chords. 

SAPPHO. 

Liften Aphrodite, the golden-throned 

Daughter of Jove, so full of wiles and art ! 

No more my throbbing bofom load with care. 

Come once again, if ever mufic soft 

Swept from this lyre, floated upon thy soul ; 

If e'er delighted, thou didft leave thy home, 

And in thy light car, swiftly borne along 

By thy glad doves, prompt at thy loved command, 

E'en as the lightning flames, to the earth. 

Voluptuous smiles played o'er thy heavenly lips, 

As with companionate and tender voice, 

Thou deign'dft to afk the caufe of Sappho's pain. 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 2J 

" Why is thy song so sad and fraught with grief? 

" What is thy earneft spirit yearning for ? 

" Whom doft thou long to clafp within thine arms, 

" A prif'ner in love's fetters, paft releafe ? 

" Who is he ? Will he turn away from thee ? 

" Soon will he seek again thy trufKng love. 

" Scorns he thy gifts ? He'll give thee gifts himfelf. 

" Loves he not yet ? Soon will he love thee dear, 

" And be a flave to every glance of thine." 

Thus come again, and drive away the care 

That rends my heart. Remove this anxious doubt. 

Thou on my fide, love's battle I shall win. 

(She leans back her head exhaufted. Curtain falls.) 



SAPPHO. 



ACT SECOND. 

SCENE I. 

Open country as in i ft A6t. Enter Phaon alone. 
PHAON. 

Here then I find tranquillity and reft. 
The banquet's revelry, the cymbal's din. 
The loud rejoicing of the feftive crowds, 
Reach me not here, within this quiet vale. 
The murmuring mufic of the ruftling leaves, 

Invites to contemplation and repofe. 

******* 

Let me recall the changes of my life, 

Since firft I left my aged parent's roof, 

And towards Olympia turned my gallant deed. 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 20, 

There was a time, when with a lightning glance 
The complex web of my entangled thoughts 
I could unravel. Now, upon my soul 
Broods mifty darknefs, like a thunder-cloud. 
Uneaiy dreams now haunt my troubled brain, 
And flit like spectres, into vacant space. 
A heavy veil seems thrown upon the paft. 
The joy of yefterday, I trace no more. 
The palling hour itfelf, so ftrange my doubt, 
Counts not the blifs its predecefTor brought. 
I ark myfelf, can I in truth be he, 
Who at Olympia ftood by Sappho's fide, 
And as an equal, fhared proud Sappho's fame ? 
******* 

'Twere madnefs ftill to doubt, yet doubt I muft. 

******* 

How full of myftery the human heart ! 

The object of its fondeft dreams, once gained, 

Is quickly robbed of all its promifed blifs. 

Before we met, no one in earth or Heaven, 

Could paint the glowing fairy paradife, 

My fancy revelled in by Sappho's side. 

For one kind word, one loving glance of hers, 

I would have flung my maddened life away, 

And on her smile, the value of my soul. 



30 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

But now that fhe is mine — I hefitate. 
My hopes have thruft afide their winter {hell. 
Like golden butterflies, they round me play, 
And yet I paufe and tremble ! 

Woe is me ! 
Spell-bound, I have forgot my very self, 

All elfe — my parents 

Oh ! my poor parents ! 
Why have I not had time, to think of ye ? 
Why have I failed, amid bewildering thoughts, 
Till now, to eafe your fond anxiety ? 
Perhaps already, do ye mourn my death. 
Perchance already, bufy rumor's tongue 
Hath whifpered that your son, he whom ye sent 
In search of glory on Olympia's plains, 
Sought but one prize — 'twas love — in Sappho's arms. 



Ha ! who fhall dare to lightly breathe that name ? 
Nobleft of women, crown of all thy sex ! 
What tho' the fhafts of envy point at thee ! 
My arm fhall fling defiance to the world. 
The fight of Sappho quickly would efface, 
Within my father's breaft, all prejudice, 
His innate senfe of virtue had imbibed, 



Scene H.] SAPPHO. 3I 

'Gainf! one, that he in ruftic innocence, 
Suppofed the songftrefs of licentious love. 

(Paufes loft in thought. Sounds of approaching footfteps.) 

Who comes ? Perchance the noify crowd draws near. 
I will away, but whither ? 

Why not here? 

(Entering the grotto.) 



SCENE II. 

. (Eucharis, Melitta, and female flaves with flowers.) 

EUCHARIS. (Playfully.) 

Hafte, maidens. Bring more flowers, whole heaps 

of flowers, 
That we may decorate with fitting grace, 
The houfe, the hall, the veftibule and doors. 
E'en the parterre, we'll decorate with flowers. 
To-day we celebrate the fear! of love. 

MAIDENS. (Difplaying flowers.) 

See here ! 

(They begin to hang the porticos and trees with garlands.) 



32 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

EUCHARIS. 

Well done. 

(Turning to Melitta.) 

Melitta, how is this ? 
Where are thy flowers ? 

MELITTA. 

Mine ? 

EUCHARIS. 

Yes, Melitta, thine ! 
Alone thou comeft here with empty hands. 

MELITTA. 

I too will gather — 

EUCHARIS. 

Gather ! doft thou say ? 
And yet thou doth not ftir a fingle ftep. 
Thou little hypocrite, at once confefs, 
What is it ails thee ? At the feaft to-day, 
I saw our miftrefs, with peculiar smile, 
Glance often at thee, yet at times her eyes 
On meeting thine, would quickly sweep the ground. 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. 33 

Oft as fhe did so, I could see thee bluih, 

And trembling with confufton and difmay, 

Forget thy service at the feftal board. 

And when at her command, thou bor'ft the cup, 

Ere to the gentle ffranger it had pafTed, 

And ere thy lip had preiTed it, fhe cried out, 

" Cart down thine eyes, Melitta." In thy fear, 

And as fhe spoke, half of the purple draught 

Was spilt by thee, upon the marble floor. 

E'en Sappho laughed. Now tell me what this means ? 

Confefs — confefs ! Let truth be only thine. 

MELITTA. 

Oh ! leave me — 

EUCHARIS. 

Not I indeed. No mercy 
Can I fhow thee, until thou tell'ft us all. 
Within thine eyes, already springs a tear! 
Well ! Well ! poor child, I will not prefs thee more. 
Yet do not weep. I cannot bear thy tears. 
Is it indeed, becaufe thou haft no flowers ? 
Then we will go and gather some for thee, 
And in our abfence, thou canft twine thefe wreaths. 
But liften, deareft child, thou muft not weep. 

(Eucharis and the maidens go out.) 
5 



34 SAPPHO. [Act II. 



SCENE III. 

Melitta alone. She seats herfelf upon a grafly bank, and begins to weave a garland. 
She soon lays it afide and fhakes her head mournfully. 



MELITTA. 

I can no more. Ah I me. This head will burfL 

My heart beats wildly in my aching breaft. 

Here mull I live, deferted and alone. 

Far from my parents, in a foreign land, 

To whom I cannot raife my fettered hands. 

Alas ! I am forgotten and alone, 

Without one sympathizing bofom near. 

With tearful eyes, I see around me thofe, 

Who have their friends and kin to fhare their grief. 

For me no feeling heart refponfive throbs ; 

For thofe that fondly love me, dwell not here. 

Children I see, climbing their father's knee, 

Craving a kifs, his filvery locks carefs : 

My father's love can never reach his child : 

A broad sea intervenes 'twixt him and me. 

Yet some appear to love me even here, 

And now and then confer a gentle word. 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 35 

'Tis pity ! Such, the flave may well excite. 
Their gentle words oft turn to bitter scorn. 
The place for me, is by the lowly hearth, 
Where thought cannot arrive, nor eye can reach. 

(Kneeling.) 

Hear, oh ye Gods ! again my humble prayer, 
And turn ye not from one so sadly placed. 
Reftore me to my native land once more. 
Oh ! let me lay, upon some friendly breaft, 
This aching head, and cool this burning brow, 
Or take me, oh ye Gods ! to reft in Heav'n. 



SCENE IV. 

Phaon comes forward from the grotto, and lays his hand gently on Melitta's moulder. 

PHAON. 

So young and yet so sad — poor girl ! 

MELITTA. (Starting.) 

Ah! me. 

PHAON. 

Did I not hear thee afk of Heav'n a friend ? 



36 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

Thy prayer is heard. A friend behold in me. 

One common sorrow binds our hearts in one. 

The weary wretched ever are akin. 

I alfo weep my parents and my friends, 

And long once more to reach my native land. 

Let us together make exchange of grief; 

By mutual pity soothe each other's pain. 

What ! filent ? Why art thou truftlefs, maiden ? 

Uplift thy gentle eyes to mine, and see 

Sincerity of purpofe in my heart. 

(He raifes her head with his hand.) 

Thou art the little Hebe of the feaft, 10 
Whofe trembling hand let fall the purple wine. 
Well, 'twas an accident. Thou need'ft not fear; 
Thy miftrefs and myfelf were much amufed. 

(Melitta raifes her eyes to Phaon, and immediately haftens to retire.) 

PHAON. (Detairiing her.) 

Did I say aught, my child, to give offence ? 

Thy gentle eyes cannot with anger flam. 

Thou mull ftay with me ! Nay ! Thou muft remain. 

I had already marked thee at the feaft, 

And watched thy timid filence at the board. 

Who art thou, then ? And wherefore art thou here ? 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 37 

I'm sure I saw thee serving at the feaft, 
And heard the maidens call thee fellow Have. 



I am a ftave- 



MELITTA. 

(Going.) 
PHAON. (Detaining her.) 

Maiden ! Nay go not yet. 

MELITTA. 

What wouldft thou with a Have ? Let her seek reft, 
Upon the bofom of another Have, 

\JT (with emotion.) 

take her to reft in Heaven, ye Gods ! 

PHAON. 

Why this emotion ! Be composed, dear child. 
The ftavifh fetter binds the hands alone. 
The soul cannot be crufhed by ftavifh chains. 
Sappho is good and kind. A word from me, 
And without ranfom, fhe will set thee free. 
She will rejoice to send thee to thy home. 

(Melitta Ihakes her head sadly.) 

Believe me that fhe will, or has the wifh 
To see again thy country, left thy breaft ? 



38 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

MELITTA. 

Where is my father land ? 

PHAON. 

Doft thou not know ? 

MELITTA. 

From its loved shelter, I was early torn. 
Within my memory dwell its fruits and flowers, 
But not its name. And yet methinks it lay 
Far to the East, beneath the burning sun, 
Where all is bright, and beautiful, and clear. 

PHAON. 

Is it then far from here ? 

MELITTA. 

Oh, very far. 
Not trees, and fruits, and flowers like thefe grew there. 
The ftars fhone brighter in the midnight fkies, 
And gentler friends dwelt there, and kinder hearts. 
With happy children too, I played in youth. 
A venerable man, with snow-white hair, 
I called him father, did carefs me oft. 



This man — 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 39 



Another too was there, so beautiful- 
With eyes and hair, as dark as thine. 

PHAON. 
MELITTA. 

He too — 

PHAON. 

CarefTed thee ! 

(Seizing her hands.) 



MELITTA. (Softly.) 

Yes ! I was a child. 

PHAON. 

In truth a sweet and lovely child. Go on. 

MELITTA. 

So far my life was joy and happinefs. 
One night I was awakened by loud cries. 
My nurfe, in terror, bore me from the houfe, 
Amid the darknefs, to a neighboring wood. 
Afar I saw the dwellings wrapt in flames, 
And men and women flattening to and fro. 



4_0 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

All was confufion, death and dire difmay. 

A ruffian seized me, 'mid wild fhrieks and cries, 

And then I found myfelf on board a fhip, 

That glided swiftly through the waters dark. 

Children and maidens round about me wept. 

We saw our native mores retreating faft, 

And one by one, our number smaller grew. 

And many days, and nights, and months were pafTed, 

Till I alone, of all that childifh band, 

Survived to reach the ftrand of Lesbos' Me. 

There Sappho saw and bought me for her flave. 

PHAON. 

And hath thy lot been sad, in Sappho's hands ? 

MELITTA. 

Oh no ! With pity fhe bewailed my fate, 
And dried my tears. Then as I older grew, 
She gave me kind inftrucTion and advice, 
For tho' impetuous and quick of speech, 
Sappho is kind and good. Yes, great and good. 

PHAON. 

Yet thou canft not forget thy native home ? 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 4 I 



MELITTA. 

Too soon, alas ! I have forgotten it. 

The dance, and childifh sports, and houfehold cares, 

Have oft effaced the mem'ry of the loved. 

But when opprefTed with anxious care and grief, 

Ah ! then returns a longing for my home, 

And fond remembrance with a faithful hand, 

Lifts up the curtain from the fhadowy paft. 

So sad was I to-day 1 scarce knew why, 

That all I heard, seemed said to give me pain, 
And fell with mournful echo on mine ear. 
But that is paft. Once more I'm glad again. 

(The maidens call Melitta from within.) 
PHAON. 

Hark ! thou art called ! 

MELITTA. 

Who calls me ? I will go. 

(She haftily gathers up her flowers.) 
PHAON. 

What haft thou here ? 



4-2 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

MELITTA. 

Why, flowers ! 

PHAON. 

For whom are they ? 

MELITTA. 

For thee — for thee and Sappho. 

PHAON. 

Then flay here. 

MELITTA. 

But I was called ! 

PHAON. 

Thou muft not leave so sad. 
Show me thy flowers. 

MELITTA. 

Thou see'ft them. 

PHAON. (Taking a rofe.) 

Take this rofe, 
And keep it in remembrance of this hour. 

(He places it in her bofom.) 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 4.3 

In other lands and here, 'twill be a pledge 
That in this world at leaft, thou haft one friend. 

(Melitta, who had fhrunk from his touch, now Hands with drooping arms, and eyes call 
down. Phaon regards her attentively. Voices from within again call Melitta. 
She ftarts, and turning to Phaon, says) 

Didft thou call me ? 



PHAON. 

'Twas some one from within. 

MELITTA. 

(Again gathering up her flowers.) 

PHAON. 



I come. 



Why art thou sparing of thy flowers ? 
Doth not my offering warrant some return ? 

MELITTA. 

Return from me ? What have I then to give ? 

PHAON. 

The vain and proud give gold. Friendfhip and love 
May give a Ample flower, and thou haft flowers. 



4-4- SAPPHO. [Act II. 

• MELITTA. 

(Throwing them away.) 

What thefe ! Plucked by rude hands? No! never 
thefe. 

(Looking at the rofe bufhes.) 

They have quite ftripped the branches. Not aflower — 

Yes — there I see a solitary rofe, 

But yet so high. It is beyond my reach. 

PHAON. 

Then let me help thee ! 

MELITTA. 

Oh no — no! 

PHAON. 

But why ? 
Not thus so eaflly I yield my claim. 

MELITTA. 
(Afcending a bank.) 

Let me then bend this branch to thee. 

PHAON 

So do. 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 4_5 

MELITTA. 

(Standing on tip-toe and bending down the branch.) 

Canft thou not reach it yet ? 

PHAON. 

(Without regarding the rofe, he looks at Melitta.) 

Not yet. 



MELITTA. 

Now then- 
Oh ! Heavens ! I flip ! I fall ! 



PHAON. 

Ill hold thee fafl. 

(The branch efcapes her grafp, and flipping, fhe falls into Phaon's arms.) 

MELITTA. 

Releafe me — 

PHAON. 

(Holding her againft his heart.) 

Melitta ! 



4-6 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

MELITTA. 

Leave me, I pray. 

PHAON. 



Melitta 



(He kifles her.) 



SCENE V. 



Enter Sappho, limply drefled without lyre or wreath. 

SAPPHO. 
(To Phaon.) 

I have sought thee everywhere. 
But ah ! What do I see ? 

MELITTA. 

My mifrrefs here! 

PHAON. (Releafing Melitta.) 

What ! Sappho ! 

(A paufe.) 
SAPPHO. 

Melitta ? Ha ! 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 4.7 



MELITTA. 

My miftrefs — 

SAPPHO. 

What seek rt thou here ? 

MELITTA. 

I only sought for flowers. 

SAPPHO. 

And not in vain 'twould seem ! 

MELITTA. 

This Ample rofe — 

SAPPHO. - 

Is burning on thy cheek — 

MELITTA. 

It hangs too high — 

SAPPHO. 

Not high enough perhaps ! Go. 

MELITTA. 

Shall I not — 

SAPPHO. 

Begone ! 

(Exit Melitta.) 



4-8 SAPPHO. [Act II. 



SCENE VI. 

Sappho and Phaon. 

SAPPHO. (After a paufe.) 

Phaon ! 

PHAON. 

Sappho ! 

SAPPHO. 

Thou left too soon. 
Thy abfence from the table marred its joy. 

PHAON. 

I love not wine, nor loud feftivity. 

SAPPHO. 

Nor loud feftivity ! mean'ft thou reproach ? 
Then I have erred in making our return, 
A time of happinefs and feftival ? 

PHAON. 

To wound thee, Sappho, was not my intent. 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 4.9 

SAPPHO. 

Oft doth the happy heart seek mirth and noife, 
The better to enjoy its inward blifs, 
Unheeded and alone. 

PHAON. 

Perhaps 'tis true. 

SAPPHO. 

Then too, I anxious felt to make return, 

To my kind friends, for all the love they've mown ; 

They at the banquet's revelry were gl'ad. 

But for the future, fhall no noify mirth, 

Difpleafing to us both, difturb our reft. 

PHAON. 

For this accept my thanks. 

(Moving from her.) 
SAPPHO. 

And wouldft thou go ? 

PHAON. 

Shall I remain ? 

SAPPHO. 

To go or ft ay — thou'rt free. 



50 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

PHAON. 

Art thou then angry ? 

SAPPHO. (With emotion.) 

Phaon ! 

PHAON. 

Wouldft thou then — 

SAPPHO. 

Nothing — and yet — 

(With control.) 

Did I not see thee now 
Toy with Melitta ? 

PHAON. (Abftraaedly.) 

Melitta ! Ah yes ! 
Perhaps — Go on. 

SAPPHO. 

She is a lovely child. 

PHAON. 

Yes, so (he seems. 

SAPPHO. 

She is the favored one 
Of all my flaves, or I may almoft say 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 51 

Of all my children, for as my children, 

I have loved them. And if the flavifh chain, 

I have not loofed, 'tis that the tender age 

Of thefe poor orphans, frill demands from me, 

A mother's ever watchful care and love. 

In Mytilene 11 full many a joyous heart, 

Afcribes its happinefs to Sappho's love. 



PHAON. 



'Tis well ! 'tis well. 



SAPPHO. 



Of all the maiden band, 
That fate capricious, trufted to my care, 
None is so dear to me, as this poor child. 
Though lowly both in nature and in gifts, 
Yet me to me is dearer than the reft. 
Her timid modefty and gratitude, 
Seem ever anxious to declare themfelves ; 
Yet fearful to intrude, like to the snail 
That at the flighteft touch, finks in its fhell, 
Yet clings so clofely, that it drops in death. 



^2 SAPPHO. [Act II. 

PHAON. 

How beautiful ! 

SAPPHO. 

And it would grieve me much, 
(Forgive me, friend), if e'er a carelefs word, 
Should waken in that maiden's youthful soul, 
Feelings and hopes, that unfulfilled, would pain. 
I would to her the sad experience spare 
Of unrequited faith, nor let her know 
How love difdained, preys on the aching heart. 
My friend ! 

PHAON. 

What saidft thou ? 

SAPPHO. 

Then thou heardft me not. 



PHAON. 



I hear — Love pains- 



SAPPHO. 



Yes, thou art right. It doth. 
But now thy mood is dull. Another time 
We will refume this point. 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. ^ 



PHAON. 

Another time ! 



'Tis well. 



SAPPHO. 

And now farewell. This is the hour, 
I dedicate to ftudy and repofe, 
In yonder filent grotto. Though the mufe 
To-day may prove unkind, ftill may I hope, 
To find repofe within its peaceful walls. 
And thou, meanwhile, farewell. 

PHAON. 

Woiildir thou leave me ? 

SAPPHO. 

Wouldft thou I ftay ? 

PHAON. 

Farewell. 

SAPPHO. (Turning haftily away.) 

Again farewell. 

(She enters the grotto.) 



54 SAPPHO. [Act II. 



SCENE VII. 

PHAON. (Looking around.) 

And haft thou really — 

She is gone indeed. 
I am bewildered and my mind confufed — 

(Looks at the grafly bank.) 

'Twas here fhe sat, that lovely blooming girl ; 

(He seats himfelf.) 

Here alfo will I seek repofe and peace. 

(He sadly covers his face with his hands. Curtain falls.) 



SAPPHO. 



ACT THIRD. 

SCENE I. 

Country as in preceding aft. Phaon lies flumbering on the graffy bank. 

SAPPHO. 
(Entering from grotto.) 

'Tis all in vain ! Rebellious to my will, 

Thought wanders and returns, void of all senfe : 

Whilfr ever and anon, whate'er I do, 

Before me ftands that horrid, hated fight 

I fain would flee from, e'en beyond this earth. 

How he upheld her ! — How fhe clafped his arm 

Till gently yielding to its soft embrace, 

She on his lips — Away ! away ! the thought ! 

For in that thought, are deaths innumerable. 



56 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

But why torment myfelf, and thus complain 
Of what perhaps is after all a dream ? 
Who knows what tranfient feeling, soon forgot, 
What momentary impulfe led him on, 
Which quickly pafled, e'en as it quickly came, 
Unheeded — undeferving of reproach ? 
Who bade me seek the meafure of his love, 
Within my own impaflioned, aching breaft? 
******* 

Ye, who have ftudied life with earneft care, 

By man's affection, judge not woman's heart. 

A reftlefs thing is his impetuous soul — 

The Have of change — and changing with each change. 



Boldly man enters on the path of life, 

Illumined by the morning ray of hope : 

Begirt with sword and fhield, courage and faith. 

Impatient to commence a glorious ftrife. 

Too narrow seems to him domeftic joy. 

His wild ambition overleaps repofe, 

And hurries madly on through endlefs space : 

And if upon his wayward path, he meets 

The humble beauteous flower called love, 

And mould he ftoop to raife it from the earth, 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 57 



He coldly places it upon his helm. 

He knoweth not, what holy ardent flame, 

It doth awaken in a woman's heart. 

How all her being every thought — each wifh- 

Revolve forever on this Angle point. 

Like to the young bird, round its mother's neft 

While fluttering, doth her anxious boding care 

Watch o'er her love her cradle and her grave. 

Her whole of life — a jewel of rich price — 
She hangs upon the bofom of her faith. 



Man loves — 'tis true — but his capacious heart 
Finds room for other feelings than his love; 
And much that woman's purity condemns, 
He deems amufement, or an idle jeft. 
A kifs from other lips, he takes at will. 
Alas ! that this is so ; yet so it is. 

(Turns and sees Phaon fleeping.) 
* * * * * * ' * 

Ha ! see ! Beneath the fhadow of yon rofe, 

The faithlefs dear one numbers. Aye ! He fleeps, 

And quiet reft hath settled on his brow. 

Thus only {lumbers gentle innocence. 

Alone thus gently breathes th' unburdened breaft. 



58 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Yes, dearer! ! I will truft thy peaceful fleep, 
Whate'er thy waking, painful may difclofe. 
Forgive me then, if I have injured thee 
By unjuft doubt ; or if I dared to think, 
That falfehood could approach a fhrine so pure. 

A smile plays o'er his mouth ! His lips divide ! 
A name is hovering in his burning breath ! 
Awake ! and call thy Sappho ! She is near ! 
Her arms are clafped about thee ! 

(She kifles his brow. Phaon awakes and with half opened eyes exclaims.) 



Ha! 



PHAON. 

SAPPHO. 

(Starting back.) 



Melitta 



PHAON. 

Who hath difturbed me ? What envious hand 
Hath driven from my soul, the happy dream ? 

(Recollefting himfelf.) 

Thou ! Sappho ! welcome. Well I knew indeed, 
That something beauteous mud be near my fide, 
To lend such glowing colors to my dream. 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 59 

But why so sad ? I am quite happy now. 

The anxious care that lay upon my breaft, 

Hath difappeared, and I am glad again. 

Like to some wretch, who hath been headlong 

plunged 
Into some deep abyfs, where all was dark. 
When lifted upward by a friendly arm, 
So that once more, he breathes the air of Heav'n, 
And in the golden sun-light bathes again, 
He heareth happy voices sounding near. 
Thus in the wild excitement of my heart, 
I feel it overflow with happinefs, 
And wifh half-finking 'neath the weight of joy, 
For keener senfes, or for lefs of blifs. 

SAPPHO. 
(Loft in thought.) 

Melitta ! 

PHAON. 

Be gay and happy, dear one. 
All 'round us here, is beautiful and fair. 
On weary wings, the summer evening links, 
In placid reft upon the quiet earth. 
The sea heaves timidly her billowy breaft, 
The bride expectant of the Lord of Day, 
Whofe fiery fteeds have almoft reached the Weft. 



60 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

The gentle breeze lighs thro' the poplar boughs, 
And far and near, all nature whifpers love. 
Is there no echo in our hearts — we love ? 

SAPPHO. (Afide.) 

Oh ! I could truft again this faithlefs one. 
But no ! Too deeply have I read his heart. 

PHAON. 

The feverifh spell that prerTed upon my brain, 
Hath vanifhed quite, and ah ! believe me, dear 
Sappho ! I ne'er have loved thee till this hour. 
Let us be happy — 

But tell me, loved one, 
What faith haft thou in dreams ? 

SAPPHO. 

They always lie, 
And I hate liars. 

PHAON. 

For as I flept juft now, 
I had a heavenly dream. I thought myfelf 
Again — again — upon Olympia's height, 
As when I saw thee firft, the queen of song. 
Amid the voices of the noify crowd, 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 6 I 

The clang of chariot wheels, and warrior fhouts, 
A {train of mufic, ftole upon mine ear. 
'Twas thou ! again thou sweetly sang of love, 
And deep within my soul, I felt its power. 
I ruined impetuous towards thee, when beho]d ! 
It seemed at once, as tho' I knew thee not ! 
And yet the Tyrian mantle clafped thy form 
The lyre ftill lay upon thy snow-white arm. 
Thy face alone was changed. Like as a cloud 
Obfcures the brightnefs of a summer fky, 
The laurel wreath had vanifhed from thy bro\f. 
Upon thy lips, from which immortal sounds 
Had scarcely died away, sat nought but smiles'; 
And in the profile of proud Pallas' face, 1 
I traced the features of a lovely child. 
It was thyfelf — and yet 'twas not — 

It was — 

SAPPHO. 

(Almoft fhrieking.) 

Melitta ! 

PHAON. (Starting.) 

Thou well nigh hadft frightened me. 
Who said that it was fhe ? I knew it not ! 
Oh ! Sappho ! I have grieved thee — 

(Sappho motions him to leave.) 



12 



62 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Ah ! what now ? 
Thou wifh'ft me to be gone ? Let me firft say — 

(She again motions him to leave.) 

Muft [ indeed then go ? Then fare thee well. 

(Exit Phaon.) 



SCENE II. 



Sappho alone. 
SAPPHO. (After a paufe.) 

The )ow hath sprung — 

(Prefling her hands to her breaft.) 

The arrow rankles here ! 
'Twcre vain to doubt ! It is — it muft be so. 
'Tis she, that dwells within his perjured heart. 
Her image ever floats before his eyes : 
His very dreams enfhrine that one loved form. 
****** * 

Sapiho defpifed ! Aye, true ! And for a llave ! 
Arr I no more that Sappho, at whofe feet, 
E'ei kings were wont to kneel, whilft as a toy 
She proudly spurned their proffered jewelled crowns ? 
Fo)l that I was, to leave Parnaffus' height, 



Scene 10.] SAPPHO. 63 

For this poor faithlefs earth, where there is nought, 

Save poverty, and falfehood, and deceit. 

There, high above the clouds — there — was my place. 

Here, there is none for me, except the grave. 

Oh ye ! ordained by Heaven to rank with Gods, 

Seek not the haunts of men — for in one cup, 

Divine and mortal ne'er can mingled be. 

Of the two worlds, thou mayeft choofe but one, 

And having chofen there is no return. 

The golden fruit of fame, if once thou tafte, 

It will devote thee to the fhades of death. 

No more to life fhalt thou again belong, 

E'en tho' it lure thee, with its flattering sounds ; 

Or woo thee by its friendfhip, or its love. 

Beware, unbleft one ! wouldft thou pluck the rofe, 

And prefs inftead, its thorn within thy breaft ? 

I will again behold this beauty ffxange, 

That boafts such conqueft, over Sappho's soul ; 

Or do I dream, when I in memory trace, 

(Scornfully.) 

The image of a filly, awkward girl, 
With eyes forever bent upon the ground, 
And pouting lips, that lifp but childiih words ; 



64 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Whofe joy is play whofe pain, is dread of blame ; 

Or did my eyes pafs heedlefs o'er the charms, 
That wrapt his soul ! Melitta ! I will see. 
Yes ! I will see her — (she calk) 

Come ! Melitta ! come I 



SCENE III. 

Eucharis — Sappho. 
EUCHARIS. 

Didft thou call, Lady ? 

SAPPHO. 

I called Melitta. 
Where is me ? 

EUCHARIS. 

I think within her chamber. 

SAPPHO. 

Seeks fhe then solitude ? What doth fhe there ? 

EUCHARIS. 

Indeed I know not, but her ways of late 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. 65 

Are very ftrange. This morning, fhe was sad 
And fllent, and her eyes were bathed in tears. 
This eve, fhe met me with a joyous air, 
While bearing houfehold linen to the brook, 
Which flows like cryftal, thro' the myrtle grove. 

SAPPHO. 

(Bitterly.) 

She glories in her triumph ! — Well ! Go on ! 

EUCHARIS. 

Anxious to know what fhe was seeking there, 
I followed gently thro' the quiet woods. 
And found her — 

SAPPHO. 

With him ? 

EUCHARIS. 

With whom ? 

SAPPHO. 

Well ! Go on. 

EUCHARIS. 

I found her ftanding in the limpid ftream ; 



V 



66 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Her clothing scattered on the fhady fhore. 
She feared no watcher — thought herfelf alone, 
And with her little hands bathed face and arms. 
The setting sun glowed on her polifhed limbs, 
And fried a rofe-tint o'er her beauteous form. 
She looked like Dian's youngeft fairefl: nymph. 

SAPPHO. (Haughtily.) 

I afked for information — not for praife. 

EUCHARIS. 

Then when the duties of the bath were o'er, 

And breaft, and brow, and blufhing cheeks were dry, 

She haftened, ringing gladly to the houfe, 

Yet so abforbed and loft in her own thoughts, 

She did not see the little leaves I threw, 

As if to ftartle her. On reaching home, 

She locked her chamber door, and after that, 

I hardly know, save that fhe seemed to search 

Her clofets, ringing gayly all the while. 

SAPPHO. 

She rings — and Sappho — 

No ! I will not weep. 
Bring her to me. 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 67 

eucharis. 
Melitta ? 

SAPPHO. 

Yes. Who elfe ? 
Melitta ! 'tis a sweet and tender name, 
So full of mufic, and so fraught with love. 
Melitta ! Sappho ! — 

Go bring her to me. 

(Exit Eucharis.) 



SCENE IV. 

Sappho alone. She fits upon the bank, and leans her head on her hand. A paufe. 

SAPPHO. 

I cannot. Woe is me ! In vain I call 
On pride, and love, alas ! alone replies. 

(She finks back in thought.) 



68 SAPPHO. [Act III. 



SCENE V. 

Melitta — Sappho. 

Melitta enters fimply and carefully drefled, with rofes in her hair and bofom. She 
ftands Hill on entering, but as Sappho does not move, she approaches nearer. 

MELITTA. 

Here I am. 

SAPPHO. 

(Turning quickly and ftarting back.) 

Ah ! by Heaven how beautiful ! 

(Hides her face in her hands. A paufe.) 
MELITTA. 

Didft thou not send for me ? 

SAPPHO. (Mufing.) 

How well adorned — 



The faithlefs one, to pleafe her lover's eyes ! 

I scarce can check the wrath, that burns within. 

(To Melitta.) 

What feftival to-day, demands this drefs ? 

MELITTA. 

Feftival ! 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 69 

SAPPHO. 

Why such care, and why thofe flowers ? 

MELITTA. 

Thou oft haft blamed me, that I seldom wear, 
The clothes thou haft provided for my ufe. 
But I was anxious to take care of them, 
Until some joyful moment fhould arrive. 
To celebrate this day, we all had leave, 
And so I drefTed myfelf with greater care. 

SAPPHO. 

A joyful day ! Indeed I know not why ! 



MELITTA. 

Why ? Becaufe home to-day, thou haft returned- 
Becaufe that thou — 

I know not really why, 



Yet I am glad ! 



SAPPHO. 

Ha ! falfe one ! 

MELITTA. 

What saidft thou? 



70 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

SAPPHO. (Controlling herfelf.) 

Come here, Melitta ! Let us calmly speak. 
How many summers doft thou count of life ? 

MELITTA. 

Thou know'ft, what melancholy lot befell 
My infant, tender years. No mother's heart 
Recorded them with loving, faithful care ; 
Yet I believe, that nearly o'er my head, 
Some fixteen summer suns have pafled. 



Thou lieft. 



SAPPHO. 

MELITTA. 
I? 

SAPPHO. 

Thou speakft not truth. 

MELITTA. 

I do ! my miflrefs. 

SAPPHO. 

Thy years in number, count not quite fifteen. 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. J I 



MELITTA. 



It may be so. 

SAPPHO. 

So young in years ! And yet 
So ripe in art. No ! No ! It cannot be ! 
Nature in her cannot belie herfelf. 
Melitta ! Canft thou frill recall the day, 
Already twelve years paft, when in my charge 
I firft received thee ? Cruel men had torn 
Thee ruthleffly from 'midft thy quiet home. 
Thy tears awoke companion in my breaft, 
I gave the sum required. Myfelf a child, 
With fervent love, I prefTed thee to my heart, 
And round my neck, thou clafped thy little arms, 
Until thou fell aileep, confoled and glad. 
Canft thou, Melitta, recollecr. that day ? 

MELITTA. 

I never can forget the hour we met. 

SAPPHO. 

And when soon after, fever's serpent coils, 

With poifoned breath, had round about thee twined, 

Who was it watched thee thro' the weary nights ? 



72 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Who pillowed on her breaft, thy burning head ? 
Who self-forgetting, wreftled hard with death, 
Intent to save from him, her precious child, 
And worn with pain and sorrow, snatched thee back ? 

MELITTA. 

'Twas thou, oh Sappho ! Thou haft done all this. 
To thee I owe whatever I pofTefs. 
How can I ever thank thee as I ought ? 

SAPPHO. 

Not so, Melitta. To my bofom come. 

I knew full well, thou couldft not me betray. 

Let then our hearts together fondly beat : 

Our eyes look only into lifters' eyes : 

Our words be blended in one loving breath, 

So that one common pulfe, ear, every thing — 

Shall mark us both, as if a fingle soul. 

MELITTA. 

Oh, Sappho ! 

SAPPHO. (Mufing.) 

I deceived myfelf — 'tis true ! 

MELITTA. 

What ? 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. J % 



SAPPHO. 

And yet — how couldft thou ? No ! thou couldft not. 

MELITTA. 

My miftrefs — what ? 

SAPPHO. 

'Tis true ! Thou couldft ! Well — go 
And lay afide this foolifh, gay attire. 
In truth, I do not like to see thee thus. 
Simplicity becomes a fimple girl. 
Thefe gaudy robes offend the modeft eye ; 
In other garments, let me see thee clad. 
Now go — yet ftay. Where go'ft thou ? Stay I say. 
Look in mine eyes ! Why thine upon the ground ? 
Doft thou then fear to meet thy miftrefs' gaze ? 
Thou wert not timid, when with Phaon late — 
Ha ! Doft thou blufh ? Betrayer is betrayed. 
Thy burning cheeks alone, I will believe ; 
They faithfully reflecr. the ardent flame, 
Which fiercely burns, within thy treacherous breaft. 
Unhappy girl ! This then, the reafon why, 
Thy conduct at the table was so ftrange ! 
That which I took for youthful innocence, 



IO 



74 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

'Twas but a cunning snare. A snare it proved, 
Such as the spider weaves around his prey. 
So young, and yet so artful ! Blooming fair, 
But yet with guilt, within thy faithlefs heart. 
Why art thou dumb ? Haft thou then lack of words ? 
The tongue that wounds, hath surely power to hifs ! 
Anfwer at once ! 

MELITTA. 

I know not what thou mean'ft. 

(Burfts into tears.) 
SAPPHO. 

Silent ! What tears ! (Moved.) 

Poor child ! Ah, do not weep. 
Tears are a sacred right, that sorrow claims. 
Anfwer with words, altho' they falfe have been. 
Ufe not the filent speech of innocence. 

(Again with bitternefs.) 

Bedecked with flowers ! as if a bride thou wert ! 
Away thofe flowers ! They do but ill conceal 
The venomed serpent, that lies coiled beneath. 

(Melitta removes the flowers from her hair.) 

Give me thofe flowers. In memory of this day, 
I'll treafure them, and fhould their leaves decay, 
They will remain, the emblem of thy truth, 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. J $ 



And o£ my — faded happinefs, — 

— But why- 
Retain that rofe, that blooms upon thy breaft ? 
Throw it away ! 

(Melitta draws back.) 



A pledge of love, perhaps ? 
Away with it ! 



MELITTA. 
(Folding her arms over the rofe.) 

Never ! 

SAPPHO. 

In vain refift ! 



The rofe ! 



MELITTA. 
(Drawing farther back, but preffing her hands clofer upon her breaft.) 

Rather my life ! 

SAPPHO. 

Thou treach 'rous snake, 
I too can fting. 

(Drawing a dagger.) 

Give me the rofe ! 

MELITTA. 

Ye Gods ! 
Protect, me. 



j6 SAPPHO. [Act III. 



SCENE VI. 

Enter Phaon. 

Who calleth ? Melitta, thou 

(To Sappho.) 

Away that dagger ! (a pau fe.) 

Sappho, what is this ? 

SAPPHO. 

Demand of her ! 

PHAON. 

Melitta, haft thou then — 

MELITTA. 

The fault is mine. Unlike a flave I spoke. 

SAPPHO. 

Load not thyfelf with undeferved reproach. 

(To herfelf.) 

Too heavy weighs the fault upon this heart. 
Alas ! That I mould need a flave's excufe. 

(In a firmer tone.) 

I afked her for the rofe upon her breaft, 
And fhe refufed. 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 77 

PHAON. 

She did ! By all the gods ! 
She hath done well. No one fhall take that flower. 
'Twas I who gave it to her as a pledge, 
A token dear, of a too happy hour ; 
A proof that in all hearts, love is not quenched ; 
Nor sympathy for undeferved diftrefs ; 
A drop of honey in the bitter cup, 
That arrogance hath prefTed upon her lip ; 
A fign of my belief, that gentlenefs 
Is woman's nobleft grace, and that the wreath 
That decks the brow of blooming innocence, 
Is better far, than fame's dark laurel leaves. 

(Looking at Melitta.) 

She weeps ! Nay ! weep not ! Thou ! Melitta, child ! 

(To Sappho.) 

Didft thou perchance, pay alfo for these tears, 
When with thy gold, thou purchaf'dft this poor flave? 
Her body is thine own. Take then her life, 
But do not wring a tear from her sad soul. 

(To Melitta.) 

Thou lifteft up thy soft blue eyes to mine, 

As if in pity for the mercilefs. 

Thou know'ft her not. Thou knowefl: not her pride. 



78 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

Seeft thou the dagger, glittering in her hand ? 
There are two others, hid beneath her eyes 

(Sappho drops the dagger. Phaon picks it up.) 

Be mine this fteel ; and I will wear it here, 

Upon this warm, yet difappointed heart. 

And if perchance, some sweet and pleafing thought 

Of bye-gone days, on me mould e'er intrude, 

One hafty glance upon this mining blade, 

Will quickly fhame away the dream. 



SAPPHO. 

(Railing her eyes.) 



Phaon ! 



PHAON. 
(To Melitta.) 

Heed not again, that soft delufive voice. 
It lures but to the dagger's deadly point. 
I too have heard it, and — alas ! — too oft, 
And long before we met I was enflaved. 
Her spell of melody was round me flung. 
Her Syren charms within their magic power, 13 
Clofer and clofer drew me, till at laft 
Beyond efcape, I was her captive bound. 
And when we met, delirious paflion seized 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 79 

Upon my soul, and threw it at her feet. 
The fight of thee, recalled me to myfelf. 
I fhuddering, saw around me Circe's halls. 
I felt my golden fetters weigh me down. 
I sought not for releafe. 'Twas frie herfelf; 
Her own enchantments were by her difTolved. 

SAPPHO. (Looking at him.) 

Phaon ! 

PHAON. 

Look not upon her ! Hear her not ! 
For in her eyes, as in her hand, lurks death. 

MELITTA. - 
(Imploringly.) 

She weeps ! 

PHAON. 

Away ! There's magic in thofe tears ! 

MELITTA. 

I cannot see my miftrefs suffer thus ! 

PHAON. 

The spell works on me too ! Away ! away ! 
Before her poifoned toils enfold us both 

(He is about to lead Melitta away.) 



80 SAPPHO. [Act III. 

MELITTA. 

I cannot — Sappho ! 

SAPPHO. 

(With emotion.) 

Who spoke ? Melitta ? 

MELITTA. 

(Falling on her knees.) 

Yes, Sappho, it was I. — Here take the rofe — 

(Offering the rofe.) 

My life ! — take both ! — Where is thy dagger now ? 

PHAON. 

(Seizing the rofe, and railing Melitta.) 

'Tis only thine. From thee, no God mall dare 
To take it. Come — 

Quick from her prefence ; come ! 

(He drags away Melitta.) 
(Sappho with outftretched arms calls " Phaon." Curtain falls.) 



SAPPHO. 



ACT FOURTH. 
SCENE I. 

Open country as in former aft. Moonlight. 
(Sappho enters loft in thought. A paufe.) 

SAPPHO. 

Do I exift ? Doth any thing exift ? 

Was not the world, in that dread, fearful hour, 

In one wild, frantic chaos overthrown ? 

(As if recollecting herfelf.) 

This brooding darknefs, that surrounds me here, 
Belongs to night — not to the iilent grave. 
And yet 'tis said, excefs of pain can kill. 
Alas ! Not so ! — 



* 
11 



82 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

Around me all is peace. 
The bufy hum of life is hufhed to reft. 
No breath is ftirring through the autumn leaves. 
And lonely, like a homelefs, sorrowing child, 
My voice of weeping, wanders thro' the night. 
Oh ! for the gentle fleep of yonder birds, 
Rocked by the ftghing breeze. But deeper far — 
And long — much longer — never waking more. 
Then would this weary, feverifh pulfe be ftill : 
The beams of morning would not roufe to pain : 
This heart would throb no more, nor feel the fting 
Of bafe Ingratitude— 

— Beware that snake ! 

(With choked utterance.) 

To murder, is indeed a deadly crime : 

And robbery and falfehood — all are crimes : 

All hydra-headed — all by hell begot : 
Their blafting, poifonous breath infects the world. 
Yet there is one amongft them all, so black, 
That by its fide, the others fade away. 

The bafeft of them all — Ingratitude. 

* * * * * * * 

It hath more power of ill than all the reft, 
And doth alone, plunder, betray, and kill. 
Ingratitude ! 

(A paufe.) 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. 83 

Protect me, oh ! ye Gods ! 
Protect me from myfelf. Within my soul 
Dark thoughts arife, and ftruggle to be free. 
From deftiny, I sought alone for him. 
Of mortal men alone I chofe but him. . 
I would have placed him on the lofty height 
Of fame and glory, with a deathlefs name, 
And graced his brow, with never-fading flowers. 
For this, I only afked a gentle word — 
Yet he — 

Immortal Gods ! Live ye there full ? 

(Struck by a sudden thought.) 

Ah ! ye do live ! From Heav'n the happy thought 

That flames 'mid the darknefs of my soul. 

Let me then seize thee — mefTenger divine ! 

Ye whifper to my ear of Ohio's ifle. 14 

To Chios let it be ! Torn from his arms, 

She there fhall learn repentance for her love, 

By all the pangs, that love alone can know. 

It mail be so ! 

(Calling.) 

Rhamnes ! What ho ! Rhamnes ! 
Ye Gods ! I thank ye for this voice from Heaven. 
I will obey it — 



84- SAPPHO. [Act IV. 



SCENE II. 

Enter Rhamnes. 
RHAMNES. 

What doft thou command ? 

SAPPHO. 

(Still loft in thought.) 

She is my work. Without me, what were she ? 
Who can deprive the sculptor of his power, 
To break the ftatue, he himfelf hath wrought ? 
To break — but can I this ? Ah ! me ! Her blifs 
Is placed perhaps, far — far above my reach. 
For if to Chios mould his love purfue, 
Is fhe not happier 'mid a herd of flaves, 
Than I — in splendor here — if all alone ? 
How sweet to suffer for the one we love ! 
Memory and Hope are rofes on one tree, 
Beneath whofe leaves, no thorns are ever found. 
Oh ! Banifh me to some surf-beaten rock, 
With no companions, save the wailing winds, 
So I but carry with me, Phaon's love. 
Then would I blefs my weary solitude ; 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. 8$ 

And fhould the fharp thorns pierce my tender feet, 
I'd think how he would grieve to see them bleed. 
For every wound, this thought would prove a balm. 

RHAMNES. 

My Miftrefs called her flave. 

SAPPHO. 

(Still abftrafted.) 

Phaon ! Phaon ! 
What have I done to thee ? Before we met, 
I flood so calm amid Parnaflian fields ; 15 
My golden lyre alone awoke my soul. 
I saw far — far beneath me, human joys; 
Yet human sorrows could not reach me there. 
Not by the hours, but by the blofToms fair, 
Enwoven in the poet's peaceful wreath, 
Alone I marked the flight of rapid time. 
What to my song I gave, it gave me back, 
And youth eternal, sat upon my brow. 
Then came the traitor, who with daring hand 
Tore off the golden veil, and dragged me down, 
Into a defert wild, a tracklefs wafte, 
Where friendly footfteps never echo back. 
No form, save his, illumed that dreary space. 
Yet he withdraws his hand, and Ah ! he flies ! 



86 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

RHAMNES. 

My miftrefs, why in gloom doft thou remain ? 
The night advances and the breeze is chill. 

SAPPHO. 

Know'ft thou a heart more black, than one ingrate ? 

RHAMNES. 

Ah! no — 

SAPPHO. 

Or more envenomed ? 

RHAMNES. 

None indeed. 

SAPPHO. 

Worthy of curfes, and of punifhment ? 

RHAMNES. 

It is indeed accurfed. 

SAPPHO. 

'Tis true. Moft true. 
All other vices are hyenas — wolves — 
Tigers and lions — but Ingratitude — 
It is the snake — so beautiful and smooth, 
Yet so envenomed — oh — 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. Sj 

RHAMNES. 

Come in with me. 
T^hou wilt be better — calmer in the houfe, 
Where all is carefully prepared for thee. 
Where Phaon waits — 

SAPPHO. 

What ! Phaon waits for me ? 

RHAMNES. 

Yes ! my miftrefs. 'Tis but a moment fince, 
I saw him walking thoughtful to and fro. 
Sometimes he'd ftop, and mutter to himfelf. 
And then before the window, he would ftand, 
As if to trace some objecl: thro' the night. 

SAPPHO. 

He waits for me ? Kind Rhamnes — said he so ? 
He waits for me ? For Sappho ? 

RHAMNES. 

Not in words 
He spoke, but ftill he waits and ftands. 
Whom mould he wait for? 



88 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

SAPPHO. 

Whom? Aye, whom indeed? 
He waits me not. Yet mall he wait in vain. 

Rhamnes ! 

RHAMNES. 

My miftrefs. 

SAPPHO. 

Thou know'ft at Chios, 
Dwells my father's friend. 

RHAMNES. 

I know him well. 

SAPPHO. 

Prepare yon boat, now moored upon the more, 
And keep it ready in the nearer! creek. 
This night — thou rnuft to Chios. 

RHAMNES. 

What ! alone ? 

SAPPHO. 

No! 

(Paufe.) 
RHAMNES. 

With whom ? 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. 89 

SAPPHO. 

What saidft thou ? 

RHAMNES. 

Who to Chios — 



SAPPHO. 
(Drawing him afide.) 

Come ! Be cautious, prudent — But doft thou hear ? 
Go then in filence to Melitta's room, 
And bid her come to me. But yet beware, 
Left he doth hear thee. 

RHAMNES. 

Who? 



SAPPHO. 

Who ? Phaon — yet- 
Should he follow — 

(Hefitating.) 



RHAMNES. 

What ! 

SAPPHO. 



Bring her to the boat, 
Willingly if poffible — elfe by force. 
To Chios then away. 



90 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

RHAMNES. 

And when arrived ? 

SAPPHO. 

There give her to the friend of whom I spoke, 
And let him guard her, till he hears from me. 
He need not be severe. Severe enough, 
Away from him, will be her punifhment. 

RHAMNES. 

I go 

SAPPHO. 

Delay not. 

RHAMNES. 

Farewell ! oh ! Sappho ! 
The morning's dawn will find us far from here. 
Thou malt approve thy faithful servant's zeal. 

(Exit Rhamnes.) 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 0,1 



SCENE III. 

Sappho alone. 
SAPPHO. 

He goes — Yet — no ! How weary is the chain 
Of habit, binding us to what we hate. 

(Loft in thought.) 

Liften ! A footftep ! No ! 'twas but the wind ! 
How beats my heart within my ftorm-tofTed breaft ! 
Hufh ! voices ! Ha ! She comes — and willingly ! 
She little thinks that me — 

But I muff hence. 
I cannot see her ! I will — yet no ! no ! 

(Hurries away.) 



SCENE IV. 

Melitta — Rhamnes. 
MELITTA. 



'Twas here thou saidff, I mould my miffrefs find. 
She is not here. 



Q2 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

RHAMNES. 
(Looking anxioufly around.) 

Indeed I left her here. 
Come ! 

MELITTA. 

Where ? 

RHAMNES. 

Perchance fhe may have wandered down 
Near to the creek, or on the sea-girt more. 



MELITTA. 

She never goes there. 

RHAMNES. 

Yet perhaps to-night- 



MELITTA. 

But why to-night ? 

RHAMNES. 

Why ? Why — becaufe — 
(Afide.) Alas ! 

That such a charge mould be impofed on me. 

I cannot bear the fight. What mail I say ? 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 93 

MELITTA. 

Thou art so ftrange ! Thou turn'ft away from me | 
As tho' thine eyes would but belie thy words. 
Why art thou agitated and confufed ? 
Tell me where Sappho is, and I will go ; 
Or if thou know'ft not, let me then depart. 

RHAMNES. 

Not so. Thou muft remain. 

MELITTA. 

Why? 

RHAMNES. 

Then follow. 

MELITTA. 

Where ? 

RHAMNES. 

To — Come down with me upon the beach 
And thou fhalt know. 

MELITTA. 

Ye Gods ! Oh ! what is this ! 

RHAMNES. 

Come ! maiden, come. Midnight is well nigh pan 1 . 
Time flies. We muft away — 



94- SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

MELITTA. 

What meaneft thou ? 
Away and where ? To some ftrange diftant fhore ? 

RHAMNES. 

Be tranquil, child. Some ftrange and diftant fhore ? 
Why, thou art dreaming. Chios is not far. 

MELITTA. 

To Chios ! Never. 

RHAMNES. 

Yes ! It mufl be so. 
Thy miftrefs wills it. 

MELITTA. 

Sappho ? Sayeft thou ? 
Away ! I will to her — 

RHAMNES. 

It cannot be. 

MELITTA. 

She'll hear and judge me, proftrate at her feet. 

RHAMNES. 

Stir not a flep — 

(Seizing her.) 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 95 

MELITTA. 

What ! Rhamnes — thou — 

RHAMNES. 

Poor child ! 
I can nought elfe. My orders I obey. 

MELITTA. 

Let me implore thee — 

RHAMNES. 

All thy prayers are vain ; 

(Afide.) 

E'en tho' the tears are ftanding in my eyes, 
It muft be done. (Aloud.) 

Come child. Away ! away ! 

MELITTA. 

Here at thy feet I kneel. Liften to prayer ! 
Is there then no one, who will hear and save ? 

RHAMNES. 

In vain. Thou wilt aroufe the houfe away 

MELITTA. 

Away ! Never ! Dwells pity in no heart ? 



g6 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 



SCENE V. 

Phaon rufhes forward. 
PHAON. 

That is Melitta's voice ! Ha ! ruffian — what ? 
And haft thou dared to raife thy hand 'gainft her ? 

(Rhamnes releafes her.) 

My ftrange forebodings then deceived me not. 
E'en now I saw thee with a ftealthy glance, 
Creep like a wolf, toward Melitta's door. 
Ha ! villain ! Thou haft mifled thy treach'rous aim ! 
The fhepherd was awake — thy death is near ! 

RHAMNES. 

By Sappho's orders, I have acl:ed thus. 

PHAON. 

By Sappho's orders ? She commanded thus ? 
Oh ! Sappho ! Sappho ! now I know thee well. 
But yet, alas, too late. Too late ! and why ? 
There yet is time, to throw thefe fetters off. 
By Heaven, I will ! 

(To Rhamnes.) 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 97 

Thou minifter of crime ! 

(To Melitta.) 

Trembling and pale thou art — Melitta — child ! 

MELITTA. 

I now am well — 

PHAON. 
(To Rhamnes.) 

Thank thou the Gods — thou flave ! 
That not a ftone hath bruifed her tender feet. 
By Heaven ! thou fhouldft have paid for every wound ; 
By gafps of agony for every tear. 

(To Melitta.) 

Thou seemeft weary. Lean on. me, beloved. 
Than me, thou wilt not find a firmer ftay. 

(To Rhamnes.) 

Look, madman, look upon the lovely form 
Thou wouldft have injured — 

RHAMNES. 

I would not injure — 

PHAON. 

What! 

RHAMNES. 

Only — but forgive ! I cannot speak, 
Nor tell my purpofe. Therefore let me go. 



n 



98 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

PHAON. 

(Difengaging himfelf from Melitta.) 

No ! By all the Gods ! Not until I know, 
The meafure of thy contemplated crime. 
What was thy purpofe ? Speak — 

RHAMNES. 

— That me mould go — 



PHAON. 

Where ? 

RHAMNES. 

To — But no ! The secret is not mine. 

PHAON. 

Thou wilt not speak it ? 

RHAMNES. 

No. She placed it here; 

(Laying his hand on his breaft.) 

A breaft that never yet betrayed its truft. 

PHAON. 

This fteel mall open it. Thanks, Sappho ! thanks. 
Thou gaveft me this weapon, 'gainft thyfelf. 

(Drawing the dagger. 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. 99 

No more concealment, for I am prepared, 
To force the secret with this dagger's point. 

MELITTA. 

Oh spare him ! I was to go to Chios — 

PHAON. 

To Chios ? 

MELITTA. 

A friend of Sappho lives there. 
He would protect Melitta. 

PHAON. 

Crofs the sea ? 

MELITTA. 

A boat e'en now is waiting on the more. 

PHAON. 

A boat ? 

MELITTA. 

He said a boat, didft not, father ? 

RHAMNES. 

Call me not father — thou ungrateful child, 
Who could betray thy miftrefs. 



I GO SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

PHAON. 

What ! a boat ? 

MELITTA. 
(To Rhamnes.) 

What have I done, that I fhould thus be blamed ? 
He afked — 

PHAON. 

A boat ! a boat ! so let it be. 
I hail the ngn. This omen is from Heav'n ! 
I have been flow this warning to perceive. 
It is Melitta — or no one on earth, 
That bears within her breaft, one half the heart, 
That yearning towards her, wildly throbs in mine. 

(Addrefling the Gods.) 

Ye ! point the way to which my fteps fhould tend. 
Melitta ! Yes ! thou fhalt to Chios go — 
But not alone — with me, and by my fide. 

MELITTA. 

With thee? 

PHAON. 

Forfake this cold and ho/tile land, 
Where hate — revenge, with its Medufa-head, 
And jealoufy are crowding on thy fteps ; 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. IOI 

Where deadly snares are placed acrofs thy path. 
Come ! There the boat — here — courage, ftrength 

and {kill, 
To fhield thee safely tho' againft a world. 

(Clafping her.) 
MELITTA. (Anxioufly.) 

Rhamnes. 

RHAMNES. 

Reflect — my Lord. 

PHAON. 

Reflecl thyfelf. 
Within my hand, now refts thy odious life. 

RHAMNES. 

To Sappho fhe belongs. 

PHAON. 

Liar, fhe is mine. 

(To Melitta.) 

Come ! follow me. 

RHAMNES. 

The dwellers of this ifle, 
All honor Sappho as their queenly head, 



102 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

And at her call, are ready to arife 

In arms, to guard her threfhold, if need be. 

One word from me, and thoufands will appear. 

PHAON. 

Thou warn eft wifely. I almoft forgot, 

With whom I am, and where. Thou go'ft with us. 

RHAMNES. 

I — my Lord? 

PHAON. 

Yes thou ! Onward ! to the beach. 
I do not envy Sappho, such a flave. 
When once in safety, then thou may 'ft return — 
Relate our flight — and all — but 'tis enough. 
Thou go'ft ! 

RHAMNES. 

No — never ! 

PHAON. 
(Drawing the dagger.) 

Yet methinks I hold, 
What will enforce obedience to my will. 

RHAMNES. 
(Retreating to the houfe.) 

Help ! Help ! 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. IO3 

PHAON. 

(Intercepting him with the dagger.) 

Then down to Hell if so thou will'ft ! 
Small price, the death of such a flave as thou, 
To save and free this child. 

MELITTA. 

Phaon ! Forbear. 



PHAON. 



If he obey- 



RHAMNES. 
(Retreating to the other fide.) 

Oh ! woe is me ! Old age 
That hath the will — but not the power to do ! 



Now, maiden, come. 



PHAON. 
MELITTA. 

But where ? 



PHAON. 

Down to the boat. 

MELITTA. 

(Rufhing to the foreground.) 

Shall I ? Ye Gods ! 



104 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 



PHAON. 

Away ! The darknefs lends 
To us the safety of its fheltering wing. 
The wide protecting diftance calls us hence, 
Beyond old Ocean's hoary, furrowed breafr, 
Where dwell security, and peace and love. 
There, where the linden fhades my father's roof, 
Shall rife a temple of unceafing blifs. 

(Embracing her.) 

Why doft thou tremble ? — Tremble not, betrothed ! 
A bridegroom's arm is 'round about thee caft. 
Come with me, deareft ! If thou hefitate, 
By all the Gods, thefe hands fhall bear thee hence, 
Onward — and onward — to the end of earth. 

MELITTA. 

Oh ! Phaon — 

PHAON. 

Come ! The ftars look smiling down. 
The sea is murmuring, and the breezes blow, 
For Amphytrite is the lover's friend. 16 

(To Rhamnes.) 

Onward — 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. IO5 



RHAMNES. 

My Lord — 

PHAON. 

Thy life's at ftake, I say ! 

(Forcing him — exeunt omnes.) 



SCENE VI. 

A paufe. Then Eucharis appears on the fteps. 

eucharis. ' 
Rhamnes ! 

(She defcends.) 

Surely I thought I heard his voice ! 
No — ! There is no one here. I was deceived. 
Strange ! O'er this houfe, fince Sappho hath returned, 
It seems that evil spirits hold their sway. 
Miftruft and care now weigh on every brow ; 
I seek Melitta ! — find her chamber void ; 
E'en Sappho wanders lonely thro' the night ; 
And Rhamnes — tho' I thought I heard him near, 

Yet he is not. Oh for the daylight ! Hark ! 

14 



106 SAPPHO. [ActIV. 

RHAMNES. 
(At a di (lance.) 

Help ! 

EUCHARIS. 

He calls ! 

RHAMNES. 

(Nearer.) 

Here ! 

EUCHARIS. 

Ha ! Rhamnes ! 

RHAMNES. 

(Clofe by.) 

Follow, ilaves I 

EUCHARIS. 

He is exhaufted ! Rhamnes ! What is this ? 



SCENE VII. 

Enter Rhamnes running. 
RHAMNES. 



Up ! from your idle beds, and onward, friends 
Purfue the fugitives — Help — Help! 



Scene VII.] SAPPHO. lOJ 

EUCHARIS. 

Why this — 

RHAMNES. 

Afk me not now. Call Sappho, and her flaves. 

EUCHARIS. 

Wherefore ? 

RHAMNES. 

Wafte not your time in words. Hence ! Hence ! 
Awake the houfehold, and then hafte to save ! 

EUCHARIS. 

What may this mean ? 

(Running off.) 
RHAMNES. 

I can no more. Traitor ! 
Exult not yet ! The gods that rule the sea, 
Will sure avenge so horrible a crime. 

(The people and flaves enter.) 

Hafte to the valley ! Wake the people there ! 
Afk not for what ! Let the alarm bell sound ! 

(Exeunt flaves.) 



08 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 



SCENE VIII 

Sappho enters. 
SAPPHO. 

What frightful noife difturbs the quiet night, 
Charing away the fleep-deftroyer — -grief? 
Who here hath reafon to lament save I ? 

RHAMNES. 

I — miftrefs — 

SAPPHO. 

What ! Rhamnes ! And where is fhe ? 

RHAMNES. 

Melitta ? 

SAPPHO. 

Yes! 

RHAMNES. 

Gone ! 

SAPPHO. 

Gone ? — and thou art here. 

RHAMNES. 

Gone, and with — 



Scene VIII.] SAPPHO. IOO. 



SAPPHO. 



Ceafe !■■ 



RHAMNES. 



-Gone with Phaon. 



APPHO. 

Oh 

RHAMNES. 



no 



Yet so it is. He overpowered my age, 
And in the very boat — for me prepared, 
He bears his captive o'er the foaming waves. 

SAPPHO. • 

Thou lie'ft. 

RHAMNES. 

Would, in this inftance, that I did. 

SAPPHO. 

Where are your thunderbolts ? Almighty Gods ! 
Have ye no torture, but for Sappho's heart ? 
Lame is the arm of vengeance, deaf its ear ? 
Hurl down your lightnings, on their trait'rous heads, 
And blafl: them, Gods ! as ye have blafted me. 



IIO SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

In vain — 

— No flam divides the quiet air. 
The breeze fighs gently thro' the ruftling leaves ; 
The sea upheaves its broad and billowy breaft, 
And wafts the bark of love to other fhores. 
Is there no help ? — 

— Then, Sappho, help thyfelf. 

(The ftage gradually becomes covered with people, and flaves bearing torches.) 

Ha ! Thefe here ! True friends ! Thanks ! Accept 

my thanks. 
Man then will give me what the Gods deny. 
Hafte, my dear friends ! Revenge your Sappho's 

wrongs. 
If ye have ever loved her, prove it now. 

(Going amongft them.) 

Thou, Myron ! oft haft sworn — Terpander, thou ! 
Lychas ! Bethink thee of our ancient songs. 
Pheres — And thou Xenarchus ! All are true. 
Hafle to the more ! Unmoor the boats ! Set sail ! 
Purfue with fteady oar, the traitors' track. 
Think that I wait alone in anguifh here ; 
That every moment until ye return, 
Drives deep a hundred daggers in my heart. 
Who brings him back — but gives to me the joy 
Of gazing on him, with my searching eyes, 



Scene VIII.] SAPPHO. Ill 

And afking once, " What have I done to thee 

(Burfls into tears.) 

" That thou fhouldft kill me ?" 

(More calmly.) 

No ! Revenge alone ! 
To him who brings him back, I'll give my gold — 
My life — Away ! Forth on the rufhing winds — 

ONE OF THE PEOPLE. 

To thee without him, we will not return. 

SAPPHO. 

Thank ye ! 

(To thofe going out.) 

My life now lies within your hands. 
Would that my wifhes could but lend ye wings, 
And my revenge add ftrength to every arm ! 
But hafte ! But hafte I By all the Gods ! Hafte I 
Hafte ! 

(Exeunt flaves and people.) 

SAPPHO. 

(Prefling her hands to her heart.) 

They go — Now I am well. Now will I reft. 

EUCHARIS. 

Thou trembleft — 



112 SAPPHO. [Act IV. 

RHAMNES. 

See I She falls ! Oh Sappho ! 

EUCHARIS. 
(Supporting her in her arms.) 

Gods ! 

SAPPHO. 

(In the arms of Eucharis.) 

Oh ! let me fink. Wherefore support me thus ? 

(Curtain falls.) 



SAPPHO. 



ACT FIFTH. 

SCENE I. 

Open country as in former aft. Daybreak. 

(Sappho is seen reclining on a grafly bank, with her eyes fixed upon the sea. Eucharis 
ftands near her, the other flaves at a little diftance. Rhamnes enters.) 

EUCHARIS. 

(Putting her finger to her lip.) 

Hufh! Beftilll 

RHAMNES. 

• Sleeps fhe ? 

EUCHARIS. 

Her eyes are open — 

Yet, tho' her body is indeed awake, 

15 



114- SAPPHO. [ActV. 

Her saddened spirit only seems to fleep. 

Thus without motion, hath fhe lain three hours. 

RHAMNES. 

Yet mould fhe not be led within the houfe ? 

EUCHARIS. 

I tried, but fhe refufed — 

What fign as yet ? 

RHAMNES. 

Far as the eye can reach are clouds and sea, 
But of a vefTel not the fHghteft trace. 

SAPPHO. 
(Starting up.) 

A vefTel ! Where ? 

RHAMNES. 

We have not seen one yet. 

SAPPHO. 

(Sinking back.) 

Not yet ! Not yet ! 

RHAMNES. 

The morning air is chill. 



Scene I.] SAPPHO. I 1 5 

m 

Permit us to aftift thee to the houfe. 

(Sappho fhakes her head in token of refufal.) 

Yet lift to our entreaties — Come with us. 

(She again refufes.) 

RHAMNES. 
(Stepping back.) 

Thou wilt not? Thus to see thee, wounds our hearts. 

EUCHARIS. 

But look ! What means yon crowd ? 

RHAMNES. 

Let me then see ! 

EUCHARIS. 

They hurry from the beach — perhaps they .come — 



SAPPHO. 

(Springing up.) 

Ha! 

(She leans forward as if liflening.) 

EUCHARIS. (To Rhamnes.) 

Afcend yon rock and — Perhaps thou'lt see. 

RHAMNES. 

(Afcending the rock.) 



I 1 6 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

EUCHARIS. 

But hafte ! But hafte ! What see'ft thou now ? 

RHAMNES. 

Thanks, ye Gods ! They come. 

SAPPHO. 

Ha! 

RHAMNES. 

Yon cedar grove 
That ftretches to the sea, far to the left, 
Concealed from me till now, the welcome fight. 
A fleet of boats is ploughing to the more. 
They prefs each other clofe, with hafty oars. 

EUCHARIS. 

But are the fugitives among the throng ? 

RHAMNES. 

The rifing sun dazzles my feeble fight — 



I cannot yet difcern — but flay ! A boat 
Before the reft, hath gained the more — it grounds — 
A fhepherd from the neighboring vale it bears — 
He waves his ftaff! They surely have been found. 
Hither ! my friend. Come here ! — 

Now he is here. 

(He defcends.) 



Scene II.] SAPPHO. 1 1 7 

EUCHARIS. 

Dear miftrefs, calm thyfelf. Be self-pofleiTed. 



SCENE II. 

The Shepherd enters. 



SHEPHERD. 

Hail! Sappho! Hail! 



EUCHARIS. 

And haft thou taken him ? 

SHEPHERD. 

We have. 

RHAMNES. 

But where ? 

EUCHARIS. 

And how ? 

SHEPHERD. 

They had the ftart. 
A fkilful rower is he ? Once I thought, 



Il8 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

That we mould not o'ertake his rapid flight. 
Until at length, far out upon the sea, 
We spied his boat — and then the chafe began. 
Soon was he reached, and soon by us enclofed. 
We bade him change his courfe, but he refufed. 
His left arm prefTed the maiden to his heart, 
His right hand grafped a dagger — 

My miftrefs ! 
What aileth thee ? 

(Sappho motions him to continue.) 

Railing the glittering blade, 
He threat'ning turned againit us. By miftake, 
An oar ftroke aimed at him, fell fhort its mark, 
And ftruck the little maiden on the brow. 

(Sappho covers her face with her hands.) 

She sank. He clafped her in his arms, while we 
Seizing the chance, at once approached his boat. 
We took them prisoners. We have brought them back. 
Already they have landed. See them both ! 
The little maiden walks with tottering ftep. 

SAPPHO. 

Ha ! Not hither — 

RHAMNES. 

Where elfe ? They now are here. 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. I IO, 



SAPPHO. 

Who'll hide me from their fight ? Aphrodite ! 
Protect me. 

(She hurries back, and clafps the altar. Her attendants surround her.) 



SCENE III. 

Enter Phaon supporting Melitta. 



PHAON. 

Let none amongft ye dare to touch this child. 

Altho' unarmed, defencelefs I am not. 

To guard her well, my arm mail prove a sword, 

And every limb of mine become an arm. 

Hither, Melitta, hither ! Tremble not ! 

No one fhall dare to harm thee, whilft I breathe. 

Can there be men so bafe, as thus to wound 

The head of childifh, feeble innocence ? 

I thought a woman, only cruel thus ; 

A woman — cowardly — full of revenge! 

(Looking among the people, and addreffing one of them.) 

'Twas thou who ftruck her ! Now I know thee well. 



120 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

Begone ! thou wretch ! Left I do rob the Gods 
Of vengeance of their prey. 

(Turning to Melitta.) 

How art thou now? 

MELITTA. 

Better. 

PHAON. 

Thou looked ill. Why tremble then ? 
This pallor doth betray — thou art not well. 
Here fit thee down upon this mofTy bank, 
Where firft upon me fhone thofe mild blue eyes, 
That like the rofy, golden rays of dawn, 
Chafing away the clouds that hide the earth, 
So chafed from me, the spell the Syren flung. 
Here, where the gentle work of love began, 
Here let it be fulfilled. 

(Turning to the flaves.) 

Where is Sappho ? 

MELITTA. 

Nay ! Call her not. 

PHAON. 

Be calm. I am no flave. 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. 121 

Who gave to her the right to ftop my way ? 

There ftill is juftice in the land of Greece. 

This, (hall the proud one learn. To Sappho, come. 

ONE OF THE PEOPLE. 

Thou muft remain. 

PHAON. 

Who holds me ? Who ? 

PEOPLE. 

We all ! 

PHAON. 

I am no flave. 

ONE OF THE PEOPLE. 

Once thou wert free, but now 
Thou oweft duty to the iiland's laws. 

PHAON. 

A duty, and for what ? 

THE SAME. 

The ftolen ilave 
Muft anfwer for thee only to the law. 

PHAON. 

Let Sappho afk a ranfom for this child, 

16 



122 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

And I will pay it, tho*' 'twere Croesus' wealth. 17 

THE SAME. 

Thou muft not dictate. She alone can afk. 

PHAON. 

And are ye then so tame to lend your power 
To aid a woman's hate — serve her caprice ? 
Why not ftand by me ? I — a prifoner here ! 

THE SAME. 

Or right, or wrong, Sappho alone can say. 

PHAON. 

Doft thou not blum, old man, to speak such words ? 
Who is this Sappho, that thou fhouldft efteem 
Her sentence greater than the law's decree ? 
Is me the sovereign of this land ? 

THE SAME. 

She is. 
She rules, not in her right — yet we obey. 

PHAON. 

Hath fhe then flung her witchcraft over all ? 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. I 2 3 

Once more I'll prove how far her spell extends. 

(He advances towards the houfe.) 

We'll go. 

THE PEOPLE. 

Stand back. 

PHAON. 

In vain are all your threats. 
I muft to her ! Now, Sappho, mow thyfelf ! 
Where art thou ? Doft thou tremble at my light ? 
Ha ! At yon altar, hemmed in by thy Haves ! 
Yes — there thou art ! Thou'lt not efcape me now ! 

(He forces his way through the crowd. Sappho is seen proftrate before the altar.) 
ONE OF THE PEOPLE. 

And wouldft thou dare ? Prefumptuous youth, ftand 
back ! 

PHAON. 
(To Sappho.) 

What wouldft thou at this altar, afk from Heaven ? 
The Gods are deaf to wicked prayers. Arife ! 

(He approaches to grafp her. She rifes without looking at him, and hurries to the fore- 
ground.) 



124- SAPPHO. [Act V. 

PHAON. 

(Following her.) 

And wouldft thou fhun me ? Thou mud with me 

speak. 
Thou trembleft ! Ha ! 'Tis now thy turn to fear ! 
Knowft thou what thou haft done ? And by what 

right, 
Haft thou placed fetters on a free born man, 
Who owns no other mafter than himfelf ? 
Look at thefe flaves in unaccuftomed arms ! 
Didft thou not send them forth ? What ! No reply ? 
Is then the tongue of the enchantrefs dumb ? 

SAPPHO. 
(Railing her eyes to Heaven.) 

This is too much ! 

PHAON. 

Thy cheeks are blufhing deep — 
The flame of anger reddens in thine eyes. 
Right ! Throw the mafk away ! Be what thou art, 
And kill — aye kill thou trait'rous sorcerefs ! 

SAPPHO. 

This is indeed too much. Courage my heart ! 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. I 2 5 

PHAON. 

Yet thou muft anfwer. Didft thou send them forth ? 

SAPPHO. 
(To Rhamnes.) 

Go bring Melitta. She alone I sought. 

PHAON. 

Let no one venture to approach this child. 
Demand a ranfom ! Though I am not rich, 
Yet have I parents — friends — who will be glad 
To purchafe from thy avarice, my blifs. 

SAPPHO. 

I afk not gold. She's mine- — and fhe mult ftay. 

PHAON. 

She fhall not ftay. By all the Gods, I swear ! 
Thy right to her was forfeited, when thou 
Againft her breaft, didft draw thy dagger's point. 
Her service thou didft buy, but not her life. 
Think'ft thou, that I would leave her in thy hands ? 
No ! Name the ranfom, and then let us go. 

SAPPHO. 
(To Rhamnes.) 

Obey what I have told thee. 



126 SAPPHO. [ActV. 

PHAON. 

Back I say. 
If thou but touch her, thou fhalt meet thy end. 

(To Sappho.) 

Is then thy heart so dead to human woe. 
That grief like this, can never move it more ? 
Thou, glittering, venomed serpent ! Break thy lyre ! 
Let song no longer on thy lips be heard ! 
The gift of poetry thou haft mifufed ; 
Its sacred name, never again profane. 
The flowers, that would have raifed thee to the ftars, 
Within thy hands, have proved a hemlock draught, 
With which thou sought to bring thy foes to death. 
How different from this, did I — poor fool — 
Paint Sappho, in thofe earlier, happier days. 
Gentle her song — her soul with feeling full, 
Spotlefs her heart, as were the ftrains fhe sung; 
The harmony that from her lips flowed forth, 
Had its pure source within an ardent breaft. 
Her very life to me was melody. 

****** 

What sudden witchcraft now hath changed her thus ? 

(To Sappho.) 

Turn not thine eyes, so timidlv from me. 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. 127 



Look up ! I would once more gaze on thy face, 
That I may know, that 'tis indeed thyfelf. 
If thefe the lips, that I once prefTed to mine — 
If thefe the eyes, that fondly beamed with love — 
If Sappho, art thou 

(He takes her by the arm and turns her. She looks up and their eyes meet.) 

SAPPHO. 

(Shuddering.) 

Woe is me ! 

PHAON. 

Yes, yes ! 

Thou art the same, and that was Sappho's voice ! 

(Softening.) 

What I have said, the winds mail bear from hence, 

And leave no bitternefs in any heart. 

Now all is clear — all clear — before my fight, 

E'en as the sun, when thunder ftorms have pafTed, 

Glows thro' the Prefent's fleeting, fading clouds ; 

So in its glory, beams the Paft once more. 

I greet thee, mem'ry of a happier time ! 

(To Sappho.) 

Again thou art to me, what once thou wert, 
When in my dreams, I traced a form divine. 



128 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

Be thou again a Goddefs. Blefs us ! Blefs ! 

SAPPHO. 

Deceiver ! 

PHAON. 

No ! In truth, that I am not. 
When I swore love to thee, 'twas not deceit. 
I loved thee truly, as the Gods are loved ; 
Or as the good and beautiful are loved. 
With the Immortals then, thou held'ft converfe. 
None can defcend unpunifhed from thofe spheres, 
Into the circle of mere mortal joys. 
The arm on which repofed the golden lyre 
Is sacred — and may not touch earthly things. 

SAPPHO. 

Then down to ocean depths, that golden lyre, 
If its pofTeffion is thus dearly bought. 

PHAON. 

I ftaggered on as if in frenzy wild, 
At ftrife both with the world and with myfelf. 
In vain I sought to roufe my heart, which lay 
As if in number — But in vain — in vain. 
Thou ftoodfr before me, a myfterious form, 



Scene HI.] SAPPHO. 120, 

Towards whom — away from whom, with equal force 
I was attracted, by an unknown power. 
Thou wert too humble, for a pride like mine — 
Too noble, reafon said, for love like mine. 

Only the equal mould united be. 

******* 

And then I saw this child, and high towards Heaven, 
The deeper! fountains of my soul upsprung. 
Come here, Melitta. Come — to Sappho here. 
Nay, be not timid ! She is good and kind ! 
Uplift the lames of thy cryftal eyes, 
That (he within thy fpotlefs heart may look, 
And all thy guilelefs innocence perceive. 

MELITTA. 

(Approaching timidly.) 

My Miftrefs ! 

SAPPHO. 

(Motioning her away.) 

No ! away ! 

MELITTA. 

Ah ! She's difpleafed ! 

PHAON. 

Then fhe is all I dreaded to believe. 

17 



I3O SAPPHO. [ActV. 

Come here, Melitta — Child ! come to my fide. 
Thou malt not kneel to her ! Before mine eyes 
At leaft, the proud one fhall not scorn thy prayer. 
Thou malt not kneel ! She knoweth not thy worth, 
Or elfe to thee fhe'd bow, as if to give 
The homage, guilt mould pay to innocence. 
Hither to me ! 

MELITTA. 

No ! Rather let me kneel, 
A child repentant at its mother's feet. 
I'll bear the punifhment me may impofe : 
I will not even murmur 'gainft her will. 

PHAON. 

Thou art no Have, or if a flave — thou 'rt mine ! 
By such submiffion thou wilt humble me. 
But there are other means to force the wiiri, 
Which in her pride, me thus doth us deny. 

MELITTA. 

But were it so, I never could enjoy 
A gift obtained by force. E'en blifs itfelf 
Would prove a burthen, gained by aught but love. 
Here will I kneel, until one gentle look, 



Scene III.] SAPPHO. I3I 

One gracious word, fnall say I am forgiven. 
How often have I knelt, as now I kneel, 
And never rose, but with a tranquil heart ; 
Nor will fhe now refufe to dry my tears. 
Beloved miftrefs — look upon thy child ! 

(Sappho Hands with her face covered with her hands, supported by Eucharis.) 

PHAON. 
(To Sappho.) 

And canft thou cold and filent thus remain ? 

MELITTA. 

She is not cold, although her lips are mute. 

I feel her heart is speaking to my heart. 

Be judge, oh Sappho ! between him and me. 

Bid me to follow him, and I'll obey. 

Bid me to leave him — Gods ! I will ! I will ! 

Thou trembleft, miftrefs. Ah ! she hears me not. 

PHAON. 

(Clafping Meutta, and kneeling with her.) 

Love give to men, and reverence to the Gods ! 
Give us our own, and Sappho, take thine own ! 
Reflect, on what thou art, and what thou doff ! 

(Sappho ftarts, looks intently at him, turns quickly, and hurries away.) 



132 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

MELITTA. 

Ah ! Woe is me ! She hath difowned her child. 

(Exeunt Eucharis and flaves.) 



SCENE IV. 



PHAON. 



My child ! Implore no longer human aid : 
Our hopes mull be in Heaven and in ourfelves. 

MELITTA. 

I cannot live, if thus me doth condemn. 
Her eyes have ever been to me a glafs, 
In which my thoughts and actions I beheld. 
They mow me now, my own deformity. 
How thou muft suffer, injured miftrefs dear I 

PHAON. 

Thy feelings, doft thou lend her ? Other waves 
Of ftormy paflion, reign within her breafl. 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. I33 

MELITTA. 

If proud fhe seems, fhe hath been kind to me ; 
Or if severe, the harfhnefs but concealed, 
What was intended only for my good. 
Alas ! That I could ever this forget ! 

RHAMNES. 

Alas indeed ! That thou didft this forget. 

PHAON. 

Why trembleft thou, if thus fhe gentle is ? 

RHAMNES. 

E'en now me went in anger, and her wrath 
Is boundlefs as her love. Woe unto thee ! 

PHAON. 

What can fhe threaten ? 

RHAMNES. 

Death to the flying flave. 

• PHAON. 

Who says this ? 



134 SAPPHO. [Act V. 



RHAMNES. 

Who ? Thus doth the law decree. 

PHAON. 
RHAMNES. 

Thou ! Who will thee defend ? 

PHAON. 



I will defend- 



Aye ! Were the earth to yawn beneath my feet, 
And ocean foaming, to engulph my form ; 
Though all the powers of nature, mould combine 
In one fell league of enmity 'gainft me, 
Firm would I hold this child, and laugh to scorn 
The rage of Sappho — all her threats defpife ! 



RHAMNES. 



Defpife ! What, Sappho ? And who then art thou, 
That dar'ft to caft thy voice within the scale 
In which is weighed, the nobleft of us all ? 
Who dares to speak, when Greece herfelf hath spoke ? 
Thou frantic fool ! Thou deem'ft her worthlefs then, 
Becaufe thou haft no meafure for her wolth ! 
Call'ft thou the jewel dull, 'caufe thou art blind ? 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 13 5 

That fhe mould love thee, raife thee from the duit ! 
Thou thanklefs serpent, that e'en now would drive 
Thy venomed tooth, deep — deep within her breaft ! 
That fhe on thee, mould lavifh all her wealth ! 
On thee — who hath no heart to feel her worth ! 
This is the only ftain upon her life ; 
None other, e'en can Envy's eye find out. 
Speak not ! The very courage that suftains thee now, 
Is not thine own — yet in thy vulgar pride, 
Thou dar'ft to warfare with the Queen of Greece ! 
That fhe looked on thee, 'twas that gave thee pride, 
Which thus enables thee to brave her now. 



PHAON. ' 

I cannot equal her in gift of song- 



RHAMNES. 
(Derifively.) 

Thou canft not ? What indeed ? As if thou couldft ! 

Among the ftars, fhe high hath wrote her name 

In diamond letters, bright and clear to all, 

And with the ftars, 'twill only fade away. 

In diftant times, in ftrange and foreign lands, 

When e'en thefe bodies, fhall have gone to duft, 

Nor of our graves, a fingle trace remains, 



I36 SAPPHO. [ActV. 

Shall Sappho's songs be heard on every tongue — 
Her name forever live, and with it — thine. 
Yes, thine ! Be proud of the undying fame 
Which guilt and falfehood mail surround thy head. 
Aye ! In frrange diftant lands, 'mid future ranks of 

men, 
When centuries, ftill within the womb of time, 
Have pafTed away, — her name fhall echo back 
From every tongue — " Sappho it was that sung — 
" Her murderer — Phaon " 

MELITTA. 

Oh, Phaon ! 

PHAON. 

Peace, peace ! 

RHAMNES. 

A wretched comforter, that calleth peace, 
With pallid lips, and trembling, troubled voice! 
Full well fhe knows her crime — full well me fears. 
Sappho at leaft will fail not of revenge. 
" Thou canst not equal her in gift of song ! ' 
And in what elfe, art thou her equal then ? 
Dar'st thou to doubt, the goodnefs of her heart ? 
Look all around thee here ! Thou'lt not find one 
But boasts her kindnefs. None that do not (how 



Scene IV.] SAPPHO. 1 3 J 

In houfe, or field, in goods — whatever elfe, 

Rich traces of her gentle, bounteous hand ; 

Not one whofe heart doth not more proudly beat, 

When named a citizen of Lefbos' ifle, 

Or called by Sappho, fellow-countryman. 

Demand of her, who trembleth at thy fide, 

A partner of thy deed, but not thy guilt, 

What conduct hath her miftrefs to her held ? 

What hath this flave to offer of her own ? 

If fhe hath charmed thee, then 'twas Sappho's work; 

The mother's gentle spirit spoke to thee. 

Aye ! Prefs thy brow ! But 'tis in vain — in vain ! 

The memory of thy crime, fhall ne'er be loft. 

What would'ft thou ? Would'ft thou flee ? Alas ! 

for thee 
There is no refuge on this wide-spread earth. 
In every feeling human heart will rife, 
A foe 'gainft him, who proved himfelf a foe. 
Before thy path, the fame of thy foul deed, 
Shall cry aloud in every ftartled ear, 
" This Sappho's murderer ! This the foe of Heav'n ! " 
Free as thou art to wander on with her, 
To whom thou giveft ruin, not defence, 
No Greek fhall welcome thee, within his door ; 

No God permit thee to approach his mrine. 

18 



I38 SAPPHO. [Act V. 



Trembling, thou muft away from altar fteps, 
To where the Prieft doth banifh things unbleft. 
Yet 'midft thy flight, the fierce Eumenides — 
Avenging Furies — thee mall follow on, 
And make their serpent trefTes round thy head 



18 



Shall fhriek out Sappho's name to fright thine ear, 
Until the grave mail ope, which thou haft dug — 

MELITTA. 

Hold, hold ! 

PHAON. 

Forbear ! Wilt thou then drive me mad ? 

RHAMNES. 

Aye ! Mad thou wert, when thou didft quit her fide. 
Eat now the fruit, which thou thyfelf didft plant. 



MELITTA. 



Let us to her- 



PHAON. 

How fhall I end this grief? 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. I39 



SCENE V. 

Eucharis enters. 
EUCHARIS. 

Rhamnes, where art thou ? Hither, come ! oh ! come. 

RHAMNES. 

Where ? 

EUCHARIS. 

To Sappho. 

RHAMNES. 

What — 



EUCHARIS. 



She is ill I fear. 



RHAMNES. 

The Gods forbid ! 

EUCHARIS. 

I followed her afar, 
Until fhe reached the entrance of the Hall, 
Watching her every act with careful eye. 



I4O SAPPHO. [Act V. 



Once there — fhe flopped — againfl a column leaned, 
And gazed in filence on the diftant sea, 
Which foams and roars upon our rock-bound coafl. 
Speechlefs and motionlefs, fhe flood and gazed 
With flaring eyes, and cheeks as marble pale, 
Among the flatues, as if one herfelf. 
Again at times fhe moved, and threw the flowers, 
And gold, and ornaments within her reach, 
Into the ocean's wild and hungry waves, 
Watching with eager eye, their swift defcent. 
At once — a flrain of mufic swept the Hall, 
And all her being, quivered at the sound. 
It was her lyre, sufpended on the wall, 
Amongfl whofe firings, the riling sea-breeze played. 
Then — as if thrilled by some myflerious power, 
She fixed her gaze upon its well-loved chords; 
A saddened smile played o'er her pallid mouth ; 
Her lips comprefTed before, were parted then, 
And words came forth of dread and solemn sound. 
Yet tho' from her, they were not Sappho's words. 
She said, " Thou then haft called me, faithful friend ! 
" I know thy warning voice. I know it well ! 
" Thou wouldfl remind me of the buried paft ! 
" For this all thanks." 

But how fhe reached the wall 



Scene V.] SAPPHO. I4.I 

And seized the breathing lyre, sufpended high 

I cannot tell. A lightning flam it seemed. 

When next I looked, it lay upon her arm 

She preffed its firings againft her frorm-torTed breaft, 

Which uttered sounds, as if in agony. 

And then her crown, won at Olympia's games, 

That hung upon the altar, next me seized, 

And placed it on her brow, and then me threw 

The Tyrian mantle round her moulders fair. 

Who firft had seen her thus, with lyre in hand, 

Standing upon the altar's lofty fteps, 

With eyes infpired, and glance to heaven upraifed, 

With form majeftic, wrapped in radiant light, 

He would have thought her, of the Immortals, one, 

Amd would have bent in prayer his trembling knees. 

And as (he stood there, motionlefs and mute, 

A senfe of terror seized upon my heart. 

I quailed beneath her look of living death, 

And hurried here. 

RHAMNES. 

And didft thou leave her thus ? 
Return — but see ! Approach not. She is here. 



I4_2 SAPPHO. [ActV. 



SCENE VI. 

Sappho enters richly drefled as in the firfl aft, the Tyrian mantle on her moulders, the 
Laurel crown upon her head, and the Golden Lyre in her hand. Surrounded by 
her people, Ihe flowly and solemnly defcends the fteps. A long paufe. 

MELITTA. 

Oh ! Sappho ! Oh, my miftrefs ! 

SAPPHO. 

(Calmly and gravely.) 

What wouldft thou ? 

MELITTA. 

Now is the darknefs fallen from mine eyes. 
Oh ! Let me be to thee again a ilave ; 
Again what once I was, and — oh ! forgive ! 

SAPPHO. 
(In the same tone.) 

Thinkft thou that Sappho hath become so poor, 
As to have need of gifts from one like thee ? 
That which is mine, I mail ere long poflefs. 

PHAON. 

Hear me but once ! Oh ! Sappho ! 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 1 4.3 

SAPPHO. 

Touch me not ! 
I am henceforth devoted to the Gods. 

PHAON. 

If ere with loving eyes, thou didft behold — 

SAPPHO. 

Thou speakft of things forever paft and gone. 
I sought for thee — and I have found — myself. 
Thou couldft not underftand my heart. Farewell. 
On firmer ground than thee, my hopes muft reft. 

PHAON. 

And doft thou hate me now ? 

SAPPHO. 

To love — to hate ! 
Is there no other feeling ? Thou wert dear, 
And art so ftill — and so ffialt ever be. 
Like to some pleafant fellow-traveller, 
Whom accident hath brought a little way 
In the same bark, until the goal be reached, 
When parting, each purfues a different road : 
Yet often in some ftrange and diftant land, 



14-4 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

Remembrance will recall that traveller ftill. 

(Her voice falters.) 

PHAON. 

(Moved.) 

Sappho ! 

SAPPHO. 

Be ftill and let us part in peace. 

(To her people.) 

Ye, who have seen your Sappho weak, forgive. 

For Sappho's weaknefs, well will I atone. 

Alone when bent, the bow's full power is mown. 

(Pointing to the altar in the back-ground.) 

Kindle the flames at Aphrodite's fhrine, 

Till up to Heaven they mount, like morning beams ! 

(They obey her.) 

And now retire, and leave me here alone. 
I would seek counsel, only from the Gods. 

RHAMNES. 
(To the people.) 

It is her wiffi. Let us obey. Come all. 

(They retire.) 

SAPPHO. 

(Advancing.) 

Gracious, immortal Gods ! List to my prayer. 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. 1^5 

Ye have adorned my life, with bleffings rich. 

Within my hand ye placed the bow of Song ; 

The quiver of the Poet, gave to me ; 

A heart to feel, a mind to quickly think ; 

A power to reveal my inmost thoughts. 

Yes ! Ye have crowned my life with bleflings rich. 

For this all thanks. 

Upon this lowly head, 
Ye placed a wreath, and sowed in distant lands, 

The poet's peaceful fame immortal seed ; 

My songs are sung in strange and foreign climes ; 
My name fhall perifh only with the earth. 
For this all thanks. 

Yet it hath been your will, 
That I mould drink, not deep of life's sweet cup, 
But only taste the overflowing draught. 
Behold ! Obedient to your high behest, 
I set it down untouched. 

For this all thanks. 
All that ye have decreed, I have obeyed ; 
Therefore deny me not, a last reward. 
They who belong to Heaven, no weaknefs fhow ; 
The coils of flcknefs cannot round them twine ; 
In their full strength, in all their being's bloom, 
Ye take them to yourfelves. Such be my lot. 



14-6 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

Forbid, that e'er your Priestefs mould become 
The scorn of thofe, who dare defpife your power ; 
The sport of fools, in their own folly wife. 
Ye broke the bloflbm, now then break the bough. 
Let my life clofe, e'en as it once began. 
From this soul-struggle, quickly set me free. 
I am too weak, to bear a further strife. 
Give me the triumph, but the conflict spare. 

(As if infpired.) 

The flames are kindled, and the sun afcends ! 
I feel that I am heard ! I thank ye, Gods ! 
Phaon ! Melitta ! Hither come to me ! 

(She kifles the brow of Phaon.) 

A friend from other worlds doth greet thee thus. 

(She embraces Melitta.) 

'Tis thy dead mother sends this kifs to thee. 

# * * * * * * 

Upon yon altar confecrate to Love, 
Be love's myfterious deftiny fulfilled. 

(She hurries to the altar.) 
RHAMNES. 

What is her purpofe ? Glorified her form ! 

The radiance of the Gods, doth round her mine ! 



Scene VI.] SAPPHO. I4.7 

SAPPHO. 

(Afcending a high rock, and ftretching her hands over Phaon and Melitta.) 

Give love to mortals — Reverence to the Gods. 
Enjoy what blooms for ye, and — think of me. 
Thus do I pay the last great debt of life. 
Blefs them, ye Gods ! and bear me hence to Heaven ! 

(Throws herfelf from the rock into the sea.) 



PHAON. 



Hold, Sappho ! Hold 



MELITTA. 

Alas ! (he falls — fhe dies! 

PHAON. 

(Supporting Melitta.) 

Help ! Help ! Down to the more at once to save ! 

RHAMNES. 
(Running down.) 

Ye Gods avert ! If from yon cliff fhe falls, 

All is forever lost — and if beyond — 

Alas ! Too late ! Too late ! All is now done ! 

PHAON. 

What say'st thou ? Hence ! A boat ! A boat to save ! 



14-8 SAPPHO. [Act V. 

RHAMNES. 

Hold ! Hold ! It is too late ! Grudge not the grave, 
Which fhe, far from the faithlefs breaft of earth, 
Hath chofen in the ocean's purer wave. 

PHAON. 

Dead! 

MELITTA. 

Dead ! 

PHAON. 

Ah no ! It cannot be ! 

RHAMNES. 

Alas — 
Withered the laurel — mute the soul of song. 
Upon this earth, fhe could not find a home. 

(With upraifed hands.) 

Her kindred gods have called her to themfelves. 

(Curtain falls.) 

FINIS. 



O T E S. 



NOTES. 



Note i. Page i. 
" APHRODITE," the Grecian name for Venus. . 

Note 2. Page 2. 
" SAPPHO." 

Sappho was the moft celebrated poetefs of all Greece, and in view of her great 
excellence was sometimes called the " Tenth Mufe." She was born in Mytilene in the 
ifland of Lefbos, about the year 612 b. c. Her hiftory rcfts in much obfcurity, and but 
few of her produftions are extant. Thefe, however, are of a high character, and fully 
suftain the reputation which was beftowed upon her, by the moft refined and intellectual 
nations of antiquity. 

Contemporary with the poetefs, was a courtefan of the same name, a native or 
Erefos in the same ifland. She is frequently confounded with Sappho of Mytilene, much 
to the prejudice of the latter. An ancient medal brought from Greece in 1822, having 
on it a female head, with the names " Sappho," and " Erefos," firft definitely settled the 
fact, that there were two perfons of that name, contemporary with each other and liv- 
ing on the same ifland, but in different cities. The diftinftion, however, had been pre- 
vioufly noted by Nymphis the hiftorian, Athenaeus, ^Elian, Suidas and others among the 
ancients, and by Visconti and others among the moderns. 

The moft remarkable events in her hiftory, were her reputed fatal paflion for a youth 



152 NOTES. 

called Phaon, and her death by leaping from the promontory of Leucadia. It may now 
be confidered as well settled, that this leap was not taken by the poetefs, but if at all, by 
her namefake of Erefos. It is true that Sappho of Mytilene in her odes, makes frequent 
mention of a youth, to whom fhe had given her whole heart, while he requited her tender 
pailion with cold indifference. But nowhere do we find the name of this perfon, and 
certainly the name of Phaon is not mentioned in any of her writings. Grillparzer appears 
to have affirmed, that the leap was taken by the poetefs, and upon that idea founded the 
very beautiful tragedy, which is the subject of the prefent tranflation. On merely 
poetic grounds, he may be juftified in this violation of hiftoric truth. Some further ex- 
tenuation may alfo be found in the faft, that his tragedy had appeared some time before 
the difcovery of the Grecian medal above mentioned. Prior to 1822, it was a matter 
fimply of conjecture, as to the identity of the two Sapphos. He was at liberty to adopt 
either verfion of the ftory, but had he known the truth, and availed himfelf of it, he 
would have been robbed of the incident and plot of his prefent excellent claffic play. 

In regard to Phaon, the suppofed lover of Sappho, nothing is pofitively known. His 
name is mentioned by Suidas, who speaks of Sappho's paffion, and its fatal confequences, 
and who diftinguifhes between the poetefs and the courtefan, attributing the leap to the 
latter. By some miftake, he makes the courtefan a native of Mytilene, and the poetefs 
of Erefos. So remarkable a death, had it really occurred, cculd scarcely have efcaped 
positive traditional notice, and in such cafe hiftory would have placed, in some way, the 
whole matter beyond mere conjefture. The beft modern scholars now attribute the 
death at Leucadia to the courtefan, and not to Sappho of Mytilene. It is true that Ovid 
in his Hero'ides confounds the two, but this can be readily explained by the faft of their 
poffeffing fimilar names, and the natural confufion arifing therefrom. Herodotus, who 
was nearly contemporary with the poetefs, does not mention such a cataftrophe. Antipater 
of Sidon in an epigram afferts that me died in the ufual courfe of nature, and was 
buried in her native ifland. 

The rock from which this leap is said to have taken place, is fituated in the ifland of 
Leucadia, now the modern Santa-Maura, one of the Ionian iflands, off Acarnania on 
the weft coaft of Greece. Lefbos, now the modern Mytilene, lies off the weft coaft of 
Asia Minor, at the entrance of the Gulf of Adramyttium. How or why either of the 
Sapphos living in Lefbos, could or fhould have thrown herfelf off a promontory on the 
south-weftern extremity of an ifland many hundred leagues diftant, is not clearly apparent. 
Even if true, one or the other of them muft have left her native Lefbos, and sailed for 
Leucadia in order to perpetrate the aft. The motive for such a voyage could not 
have been fimply a choice of spots, becaufe many bold and lofty precipices could have 
been cafily found in Lefbos suitable for such a purpofc ; nor could it have been becauft 
the rock in queftion had obtained a reputation for lovers' leaps, inafmuch as Sappho or 
Mytilene (according to the poet Mcnander) is said to have been the firft to try such r 



NOTES. 153 

violent remedy for her paffion. The remotenefs of Leucadia from Lefbos would alfo 
militate againft the idea, that either of the Sapphos committed such an aft. The rock is 
fhown to this day, and is defcribed as a white perpendicular cliff of confiderable elevation. 
An excellent pifture of it may be found in Sir William Gell's " Geography and Antiqui- 
ties of Ithaca." Byron calls it the " laft refort of fruitlefs love." On its summit was a 
temple dedicated to Apollo. A cuftom at that time prevailed of throwing down a 
criminal every year on the feftival of that God. In order to break his fall, birds were 
attached to him, and if he reached the water alive, boats were ftationed to pick him up, 
after which he was allowed to depart unmolefted from the territory of Leucadia. This 
religious cuftom may account for the tradition of Sappho's leap, and if so, the whole ftory 
would wear rather the afpeft of a poetical fiftion than a real event. 

The accounts which have reached us of the licentious charafter of Sappho's writings, 
have come only from writers long subfequent to the age in which fhe lived. There 
is nothing in her exifting produftions, which would juftify such an idea. Grillparzer verv 
nobly defends his heroine from such an imputation, and in the firft scene of the second 
aft of his tragedy, caufes Phaon exprcffty to repudiate the afperfion. The Lefbians 
themfelves (and in faft all Greece) were enthufiaftic in their admiration of her talents and 
virtues. She was regarded as a Goddefs, her image was ftamped on their coins, and after 
her death divine honors were paid to her. Had fhe been a woman of doubtful reputa- 
tion, or her writings of a licentious charafter, clearly no such homage or refpeft would 
have been paid. Sicily erefted a ftatue to her memory, and although her entire works 
are said to have been- extant in the days of Horace, that poet does not intimate that either 
her life, or her poems, were of such a charafter as to warrant the accufation brought 
againft her. It appears, moreover, that fhe was honorably married to Cercolus, a wealthy 
gentleman of Andros, by whom fhe "had one daughter, Cleis. The other Sappho muft 
alfo have been a woman of confiderable note, inafmuch as a fimilar medal was ftruck in 
her honor. Grillparzer very properly makes the poetefs almoft Oueen of Lefbos, and 
suppofes all the people her subjefts, and her will the supreme law of the land, superior 
even to the decrees of the Grecian courts. In spite of all this fhe was banifhed to Sicily, 
along with Alcasus and others, for an alleged participation in a political conspiracy againft 
Pittacus the Governor of Mytilene. Apart from the authority of Antipater of Sidon, 
and from the faft that but little farther is known of her hiftory, it might be legitimately 
prefumed that her deceafe took place in Sicily. In any event, however, all tradition goes 
clearly to prove, that fhe could not have jumped from the rock of Leucadia, becaufe there 
is not a fmgle particle of proof beyond the doubtful ftory of her death that fhe ever 
visited that ifland. Grillparzer himfelf, probably with a view of preferving the unities 
of his play, rather than a ftrift adherence to hiftoric truth, suppofes the rock to be fit- 
uated in Lefbos. 

But whatever may be the opinion of scholars, as to the charafter of her life, 

20 



1 54. NOTES. 

writings, or death, her name has now become immortal. No other writer leaving such 
scanty remains, can boaft of such deathlefs fame. Her memory has received a graceful 
tribute in this tragedy from Grillparzer, and alfo in the memoir from the pen of Mrs. 
Mary Covvden Clark in a ftill more recent publication entitled, " World Noted Women." 

Note 3. Page 3. 

" Returns fhe not from high Olympia, 
Bearing the envied wreath of viftory ? " 

The Olympic games were the chief of the four great national feftivals of the Greeks, 
celebrated every fifth year at Olympia, a sacred fpot on the banks of the river Alpheus. 
The games confifted of horfe and foot-races, throwing the quoit and javelin, wreftling, 
boxing, and other fimilar athletic excrcifes. There were alfo contefts in mufic and poetry. 
No one was admitted to contend, unlefs he could prove himfelf a freeman of pure 
Hellenic blood and of irreproachable character. A viftory was considered the higheft 
honor which a Greek could obtain, and in many inftances triumphal proceflions, banquets, 
odes, ftatues, and even sacrifices awaited his return to his native city. Thefe games 
exercifed an important influence upon the progrefs of the arts and sciences, and upon the 
bodily vigor and mental energy which characterized the Hellenic race. The prizes con- 
fifted limply of garlands of wild olive, cut from trees in the sacred grove of Olympia. 
Palm leaves were alfo placed in the hands of the viftors and their names proclaimed by 
a herald. 

Note 4. Page 4. 

" 'Tis thus, they paint the God of Lyre and Bow." 

APOLLO — The God of mufic, archery, and prophecy, and the ancient type of 
manly grace and beauty. He is generally reprefented bearing a Lyre or Bow. 

Note 5. Page 11. 

" Tower far above proud Hellas' fertile Ihores." 

HELLAS — A name originally applied to Theflaly, but finally made a general appella- 
tion for the whole of Greece. 

Note 6. Page 13. 

" One gave Minerva's brow, one Juno's arm, 
One girt thee with the Ceftus' magic charm." 

MINERVA— The Goddefs of Wifdom and Skill, and the patronefs of Arts and In- 
diiftry, is said to have sprung full-armed from the brain of her sire jupiter. 



NOTES. 155 

JUNO was the fitter and wife of Jove, and is reprefented as a woman of dignified and 
matronly appearance, with a broad forehead, large eyes, and finely formed arms. 

The " CESTUS " or girdle of Venus, was suppofed by the poets toinfpire the feeling 
or paffion of love. Thus Juno is said to have borrowed it on a certain occafion, in order 
to try its influence on Jupiter, who was somewhat indifferent to her. 

Note 7. Page 14. 

" At length arrived, the wreftler's manly art, 
The chariot's fleetnefs, or the Difcus' throw." 

Wreflling, chariot racing, and throwing the quoit and javelin as before ftated, were 
Olympian games. The discus or quoit was a round ring of metal. The game is 
praftifed to this day, and is too well known to require defcription. 

Note 8. Page 14.. 

" In vain the mufe of Alcaeus and Anacreon." 

ALCAEUS was a celebrated poet of Lefbos and the friend and contemporary of 
Sappho, who accompanied her in her banifhment to Sicily. He teftifies to her virtues 
and accomplifhments. In his " Fragments " he speaks of her as " velvet-crowned, pure, 
sweetly smiling Sappho." 

ANACREON was alfo a celebrated Greek poet, who sang of wine and pleafure, and 
whofe productions are well known, through the admirable paraphrastic tranflation of Tom 
Moore. 

Note 9. Page 15. 

" A mantle of. the deepeft Tyrian dye." 

A kind of murex or fhell fifh abounded near ancient Tyre, from which was made 
the celebrated purple. Hence the term " Tyrian dye " is synonymous with that color. 
The secret of its manufacture is said to be loft. Purple was the symbol of regal and 
sacerdotal dignity. The procefs of giving this color was chiefly pradlifed in Tyre, and 
with such succefs that it became the principal occupation, the ftaple of commerce and 
the source of the wealth and grandeur of that city. 

Note 10. Page 36. 
" Thou art the little Hebe of the feaft." 
HEBE, the Goddefs of Youth, was the daughter of Jupiter and Juno. In Olympus, 



156 NOTES. 

(he appears as a sort of maid-servant handing round neftar at the banquets of the Gods. 
Like Melitta in the tragedy, fhe too spilt wine on one occafion, and for her carelefsnefs 
was superseded by Ganymedes, a boy remarkable for his beauty. 

Note i i. Page 51. 

" In Mytilene, full many a joyous heart." 

MYTILENE was the capital city of Lefbos, fituated in the south-ealtern portion of 
the ifland, facing the coaft of Myfia. In ancient times, it was a large and powerful city, 
and gave birth to many eminent perfons. It has now degenerated into a place of com- 
parative insignificance, containing about seven hundred Greek houfes and four hundred 
Turkifh, situated in narrow filthy ftreets. 

Note 12. Page 61. 

"And in the profile of proud Pallas' face." 

PALLAS — An appellation given to the Goddefs Minerva, whofe face is suppofed to 
be the perfect type of ftrict claffical beauty. 

Note 13. Page 78. 

" Her Syren charms, within their magic power." 

The Syrens were two maidens celebrated in fable, who lived on an ifle in the ocean, 
and with their melodious voices so charmed thofe who were sailing by, that they forgot 
home and every thing elfe, and abode with the maidens until they periiTied. Homer nar- 
rates that UlyfTes once pafled the ifland of the Syrens, but saved himfelf and his com- 
panions by flopping their ears with wax. 

Note 14. Page 83. 

" Ye whifper to my ear of Chios' ifle." 

CHIOS, now the modern Scio, is an ifland in the ^gean sea, between Lefbos and 
Samos on the weft coaft of Asia Minor, not far from the gulf of Smyrna. 

Note 15. Page 85. 

" I ftood so calm, amid Parnaflian fields." 

PARNASSUS was a mountain in Phocis, from which flowed the celebrated Caftalian 
fount sacred to the Mufes. 



NOTES. 157 

Note 16. Page 104. 
" For Amphytrite is the lover's friend." 

AMPHYTRITE was the daughter of Nereus and Doris, the wife of Neptune, and 
mother of Triton, one of the sea-deities. 

Note 17. Page 122. 

" And I will pay it, tho' 'twere Croefus' wealth." 

CRCESUS was a king of Lydia, diitinguimed for his conquefts, his munificence, and 
his wealth. He is said to have been the richefl man in the ancient world. He was 
alfo the patron of men of letters. 

Note 18. Page 138. 

" Yet midft thy flight the fierce Eumenides." 

The Eumenides or Furies were GoddefTes whofe bufinefs was to avenge murder on 
earth. They are commonly reprefented as bearing a torch in one hand, and a scourge 
of snakes in the other. 



REMARKS. 



The purely claffic or ancient drama, (the writer refers more particularly to the Greek,) 
has never been popular, or even underltood in England, or the United States. Neceflarily 
diluted and weakened, through the vapid medium of tranflation, it either invariably failed 
to intereft, or from its peculiar conftruction (so widely different from a modern play) 
was nearly unintelligible. About fifteen years ago the Antigone of Sophocles was re- 
vived with MendelfTohn's mufic, at London and Edinburgh, with Mifs Helen Faucit as 
the heroine, but only met with empty benches, much to the difmay of a worthy manager, 
and the utter difguft of all true Greek scholars. 

The modern claflic drama (i. e., drama founded on some subjecl: taken from claffical 
hiflory, and written after the manner of the ancients, in fimple claffic fbyle) has been 
more succefsful, owing to the modern mode of treatment in the matter of conftruclion, 
and the growing patronage of the lovers of a claffic school of art. Much perhaps is due 
to the admirable afting of Rachel, Ristori, and others, who have infufed the old dry bones 
of the dead dramatifts with life and animation. In the United States, the introduction 
of the claffic drama was mainly due to the advent of the great French tragedienne, a few 
years fince. For the firft time in the hiftory of this country, did a woman, and that too 
in a ftrange tongue, enchain the attention of an American audience, by her marvellous 
recitation and aftion of plays, that had been allowed to flumber untouched almoft for 
centuries, and which were confefTedly too tedious for perufal in the clofet. Was it that 
there was a hidden genius in their pages, which Rachel Felix alone eliminated ? or was it 
solely her wonderful power, which garlanded and galvanized every thing fhe said or did 



REMARKS. 159 



with ftrength and beauty ? Affuredly the former, for the beft aftion and recitation could 
not revive a play, of which solemn togas and monotonous unmeaning sentences con- 
ftituted the entire material. 

The wake of Rachel has been followed here by several promifmg adlrefles, and the 
influence of her claflic spirit ftill pervades, and will, it is to be hoped, ever continue to 
pervade, every acre on which the Englifh tongue is spoken. Strange as it may appear to 
the lovers of the melodramatic and comic schools, audiences are found, who can fit out 
and even enjoy a claflic play — one full of severity, fimplicity, and heroic sentiment. 
Certainly the Church would have little to find fault with, if the Theatre was only the scene 
of such drama. Honor, Fidelity, Love, and Patriotifm are Chriftian, as well as Roman 
virtues, and their inculcation may date alike from the ftage, or the pulpit. 

Francis Grillparzer, the author of this work, was born in 1790, and is now (or was, 
not many years fince) living in Vienna as a government official. He wrote several plays, 
among others " Sappho," which made its appearance in 181 8. It may be properly con- 
fidered one of the very few succefsful modern claflic dramas, as it ftill preferves its place 
on the German ftage, and has never failed to delight the reader in the clofet. Rachel 
often exprefled her high appreciation of this tragedy, and her pleafure in the role of the 
poetic heroine. I am not aware of its ever having been produced in England or the 
United States, but the sooner it is, (not my tranflation,) the sooner I fhall believe in the 
march of intelligence and good tafte. It has alfo furniihed the libretto of an opera of 
the same name, by a diftinguifhed modern compofer. 

I find in Lord Byron's Diary the following tribute to Grillparzer's merit in the com- 
pofltion of this tragedy. The italicized paflages are in the poet's own writing. 

"January I2th, 1821. 
" Read the Italian tranflation by Guido Sorelli of the German Grillparzer — a devil 
of a name for pofterity ; but they must learn to pronounce it, with all the allowance 
for a translation, and above all an Italian translation (they are the very worft of trans- 
lators except from the claflics — Annibale Caro for inftance — and there the baftardy of 
their language helps them, as by way of looking legitimate they ape their fathers' 
tongue) — but with every allowance for such a difadvantage, the tragedy of Sappho is 
superb and sublime. There is no denying it. The man has done a great thing in writing 
that play. And who is he ? I know him not ; but ages will. 'Tis a high intellect." 



" Grillparzer is grand — antique — not so simple as the ancients ; but very Ample 
for a modern — too Madame de Staelifh now and then — but altogether a great and goodly 
writer." 



/ 



Si 



l6o REMARKS 



"January 13TH, 1821. 

" I carried Teresa (Countess Guiccioli) theltalian tr-anflation of Grillparzer's Sappho, 
which fhe promifes to read. She quarrelled with me becaufe I said that love was not 
the loftiest theme for true tragedy, and having the advantage of her native language, and 
natural female eloquence, fhe overcame my fewer arguments. I believe fhe was right — 
I muft put more love into " Sardanapalus " than I intended." 

So far as regards the prefent tranflation, I have (of course) the ufual amount of 
apology to tender to the reader. I admit in limine, that it is a free tranflation, for 1 
conceive any other precifely fimilar to attempting to make a Choctaw talk Englifh and 
Choctaw at the same time. Under the mafk of this confeffion I hope to be spared a 
very large amount of scholarly criticifm. It was made when I was younger, and when, 
in fact, I knew more German than I do now. I can safely say the same of my Latin and 
Greek — for all have grown nifty beneath the withering influence of worldly cares and 
private griefs; nor could I summon up courage enough to plunge again into philological 
ftudies, with a view of correcting my previous errors. I preferred rather to let my light 
fhallop take its chance among the billows, well knowing that its appearance or difappear- 
ance would caufe but one more bubble on the great sea of books and then be loft for- 
ever. 

My work is printed in very large type, in order to comport in size with the admira- 
ble plate of " Sappho," which was furnifhed for this volume by MefTrs. Appleton & Co., 
the eminent publifliers. Altogether, I hope it will not be condemned as a Brobdingnagian 
affair. I have not adopted this ftyle from pretenfion. If I ufed the plate, I was com- 
pelled to increafe the fize of the book, and I preferred to do so rather than omit it. The 
claffic character of the tragedy will .be deemed, no doubt, a sufficient apology for the se- 
lection of the ancient form of type. 

The use of "thou" and "ye," as required by the solemn ftyle appropriate to claffic 

trl|edy, inftead of " you," leads in many inftances to impoffible pronunciations. Gram 

marians however juftify a judicious departure in such cases from the ftrict rule, with a 

view to euphony. The tranflator has encountered many of these difficulties in preparing 

the prefent volume for the prefs, but in no inftance has fhe taken any licenfe or liberty in 

this behalf, not juftified by the beft writers, or not approved by the beft grammatical 

authorities. 

E. M. 



k 



